What is Umami, and Why Does Soy Sauce Have So Much of It?

Oval plate with sushi rolls filled with salmon and vegetables, a small dish of soy sauce with green onions, a bottle of soy sauce, and chopped green onions on the side.

Discover what umami is, and how soy sauce brings it into every meal.

Sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are common taste profiles that get most of the attention. But there is a fifth taste that quietly shapes how we experience food: umami. Think of the rich, complex flavor of a slice of Parmesan cheese; that satisfying flavor is umami! It may seem complex but thankfully, it’s easier to infuse than you’d think. Umami soy sauce is one of the most familiar ways to bring it into everyday cooking. Here is what umami is and why soy sauce has it, how soy sauce creates it, and where else you can find it.

Four halved soft-boiled eggs on a plate next to a bottle of Kikkoman low-sodium soy sauce and a bowl of whole marinated eggs.

What does umami taste like?

Umami is often described as savory, rich, and almost meaty or brothy. There is a difference between umami vs salty: salt sharpens flavor, while umami rounds it out and gives it depth. Think about the difference between a thin broth and a slow-simmered stock. Both may be seasoned the same way, but the stock tastes fuller. That fullness is umami at work.

Is soy sauce the same as umami?

Soy sauce is not umami itself, but it is a concentrated source of it. What makes traditionally brewed soy sauce flavor stand out is how it delivers that umami depth in a form that is easy to add to almost any dish, spooned over rice, whisked into a marinade, or stirred into a sauce.

A bowl of roasted chickpeas topped with a halved sweet potato, drizzled with sauce and garnished with sliced green onions.

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How is umami flavor created?

Umami can occur naturally in some foods, like tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, but it also develops through fermentation, as with miso or soy sauce. In the fermented soy sauce process, soybeans and wheat ferment over time, releasing glutamates, naturally occurring amino acids that give food its savory depth. This is part of how soy sauce enhances flavor, and why traditionally brewed soy sauce tastes the way it does. The process takes patience, but it is what builds that signature savory flavor, batch after batch.

What gives soy sauce its umami taste?

That same fermentation process is behind what makes soy sauce taste savory. As we explain in What Makes Traditionally Brewed Soy Sauce Different, the slower brewing method develops flavor gradually, layering depth and complexity over time. Non-brewed alternatives, often made with chemical processes instead, tend to taste flatter and less complex by comparison.

A black plate with grilled chicken pieces garnished with cilantro, next to a gold fork, a bottle of Kikkoman soy sauce, a bowl of white rice, and a bowl of chopped herbs.

A plate of rotini pasta with grated cheese sits next to assorted mushrooms, herbs, and two bottles of Kikkoman soy sauce on a wooden surface.

What foods have the most umami?

Beyond soy sauce, umami shows up in foods like mushrooms, aged cheeses, red wine, olives, kimchi, and miso. Many of these ingredients naturally pair well with soy sauce, since they share that same savory foundation. This is an easy way to explore how to add umami to food at home. For ideas, take a look at our collection of soy sauce recipes.

Bringing umami into your cooking

Umami is not a single ingredient. It is a taste, and soy sauce is one of the easiest ways to bring it into your cooking. Whether you are building a stir-fry, a marinade, or a simple weeknight dinner, a splash of Kikkoman® Soy Sauce adds the savory depth that makes food taste more like itself.

Explore our full lineup of soy sauces to find the one that fits your kitchen.

What is Umami, and Why Does Soy Sauce Have So Much of It?

Discover what umami is, and how soy sauce brings it into every meal.

Follow Kikkoman

What does umami taste like?

Is soy sauce the same as umami?

How is umami flavor created?

What gives soy sauce its umami taste?

What foods have the most umami?

Bringing umami into your cooking

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What is Umami, and Why Does Soy Sauce Have So Much of It?

Discover what umami is, and how soy sauce brings it into every meal.

Follow Kikkoman

What does umami taste like?

Is soy sauce the same as umami?

How is umami flavor created?

What gives soy sauce its umami taste?

What foods have the most umami?

Bringing umami into your cooking

Related Blog Posts

Teriyaki Marinade Basics: Tips, Timing and Recipes

6 Soy Sauce Myths, Busted

Zwilling Flavor Lab

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