（last updated April 6 2021)
Recipe of making Shoyu
For detail about tools and ingredients, please see the link here
This is the 2021 recipe
ーShoyu Koji 500g
ーSalt 182g
ーWater 800g
You will need a jar/container bigger than 1.5L
(16水、１４％の塩で、塩分１９％、醪１３％の配合)
ーyou can add extra water for evapolate some water, while you stir your Shoyu for a yearー
Finally, let’s prepare Shoyu!
１．Pour the water and salt in a jar/container, to make salt water.
Mix well, very well, to let the salt dissolve. If you cannot dissolve all of the salt, it’a okay. You are going to stir it everday at least for about a week. If you can prepare up to this point before you receive the Shoyu Koji, you will be able to finish everything perfectly once you have got your Shoyu Koji
２．Once you have received Shoyu Koji, add them into the salted water, stir well, very very very well!
You may see some green smoke coming out when you pour the koji.
３．Done! Keep the Shoyu somewhere you can see it everyday, and stir it everyday, at lease the first week. You will lower the frequency of mixing, gradually, like twice in a couple of days to once in a couple of days….gradually.
However, I want you to ‘look at’ the Shoyu everyday even though you don’t stir everyday.
If you find some white film on top of the shoyu, you need to stir everyday for a while.
Don’t let the shoyu to create any white film over the top! If you stir everyday, it won’t happen.
What is the white film? it’s called ‘kahm yeast’ or ‘film yeast’, and it actually not a bad sign. Nothing harmful for human.
However, if the white film grows well, it will steal the nutrients from shoyu, creates strange smell and bad taste. We need to do our best to avoid to have this white film…Please remember it!
Let’s go back to “how to make shoyu”
Here are some tips you should know:
１．It’s preferable to use the FRESHLY MADE Shoyu koji. We will do our best to deliver the freshest koji to you. To make this happen, I want you to prepare other ingredients and jars/container before you receive Shoyu Koji.
Be ready to prepare right after when you receive the Shoyu Koji. Your koji advisor will let you know when it will be delivered (or the day for to pick it up). Please further discuss with your koji advisors
For people who lives far from Toronto, Koji Advisor will se d the dried and vacuumed Shoyu Koji by mail. Since it might take a couple days to arrive, the colour of shoyu koji might change, but don’t worry. You will still be able to make Shoyu using it. Again, please wait for the Shoyu Koji to arrive, and be ready to prepare Shoyu right after when you receive the Shoyu Koji.
２．Shoyu koji is a green koji. Although the mold called ’Aspergillus sojae’ is different from ‘Aspergillus oryzae‘, they are like the same family – ‘’Aspergillus sojae’ is good at creating enzymes called protease, which breaks down protein, and this is what createsthe taste of Umami. Shoyu koji is made with half soybeans and half wheat. Shoyu Koji’s sweetness is from amylase breaking down amino acid from wheat.
When you pour Shoyu Koji into the jar, sometimes, you can see a green smoke coming out – These are spores from shoyu koji. It may look poisonous, but it’s not a toxic at all.
However, some people may have an allergic reaction with this smoke of spores. If you or your family tend to have allergic reaction, I recommend you to prepare mask to wear while you working with Shoyu Koji.
It’s common to hear people who works at Shoyu Kra, to easily get a high fever or some reaction only when they prepare Shoyu (but only at that time, not for the entire year)
It has never happened to me before but I have heard from few people who has an allergic reaction from the Shoyu spore. In case you want to avoid anything to happen, please wear a mask and open up the window or do the work outside, etc.
I want to emphasize again that it is not harmful at all to your body (except the reaction)
Anyways, when you mix Shoyu and feel
“What a hell is this green liquid?”
“Is this really going to be Shoyu?”
sounds like you’re on the right track…LOL
Enjoy preparing your Shoyu-!