Soy Sauce....How it's Made

Another thing Shodoshima is famous for is it's soy sauce.  The island is the home for the Maruchkin brand of Soy Sauce.

Right around the factory, the air smells like soy sauce.

At the factory, there is a small museum that details the history of the company as well as the process of making soy sauce before the introduction of machines.

So, you start with your wheat.  You have to separate it.

And then roast the wheat.  Then grind it.

Simultaneously, you are fermenting malt.

Then mix together, the malt, the wheat, soybeans and salt water in a large vat.  Let it sit for a long time, stirring occasionally.

Next step is to mash the slurry...

...then strain the soy sauce to clarify it.

The soy sauce to be consumed drips into these vats.

These days.....a factory!  Much easier.

Each visitor is given a complimentary bottle of soy sauce.

And you are given the opportunity to try soy sauce flavored ice cream. It actually just tasted like ice cream...the soy sauce flavor was very faint.