Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

You are probably most familiar with brands of soy sauce like Kikkoman. You might even consider Kikkoman "regular" soy sauce, and have stumbled upon a recipe that calls for both light or "regular" soy sauce and dark soy sauce. You have been told both are essential to the recipe. This is correct; you do need both for the flavour you're after. But, to be precise, Kikkoman is a Japanese dark soy sauce. This product, as well as the recipe you're likely looking at, is referring to Chinese dark soy sauce, and the two are worlds apart in flavour. Japanese soy sauces are made differently than Chinese soy sauces, and the result is that Japanese soy sauces are more sweet and mild than their Chinese counterparts. Considering this, if you're making a dish that calls for both light soy sauce and dark soy sauce, it is my opinion that it's perfectly suitable to use a product like Pearl River Bridge's Chinese dark soy sauce in tandem with a brand like Kikkoman, which is more accessible and common in most kitchens; though they are both, by name, "dark" soy sauces, the mild and sweet flavour of common Japanese dark soy sauces like Kikkoman pair nicely with the bold and rich Chinese dark soy sauce. Of course, if you're chasing complete authenticity, you'll want to look for a proper Chinese light soy sauce as well, but if you're asking what do you NEED to buy, I think this product will likely pair nicely with your reliable bottle of Kikkoman for whatever recipe led you to this product. But let me be clear: Chinese dark soy sauce is a rich and intense flavour of soy sauce, and it's an essential component of many recipes that cannot be replaced by merely using more light soy sauce or Japanese dark soy sauce in its place (and unless the recipe specifically calls for it, assume the recipe is referring to Chinese dark soy sauce; it virtually always is). Chinese dark soy sauce adds a depth of flavour and brings a sophistication to the dish that, without, will wind up tasting underdeveloped, mild, and a bit tangy. This is one of my preferred brands for Chinese dark soy sauce; it has that toasty, salty-sweet, and bold flavour I expect from a Chinese dark soy sauce, and although I must confess it's perhaps one of the saltier varieties I've encountered, I don't mind that terribly, as the quality is still quite satisfactory. One word of caution: do be careful with the lid; as it seems to leak easily, so be sure you're not jostling it around too much while it's closed.