Sweet Soy Sauce, Key Element in Nusantara Culinary Wealth

Adding sweet soy sauce in cooking (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is one of the countries with a fairly rich culinary tradition in the world. From Sabang to Merauke, the diversity of flavors is created from the use of spices, herbs, and cooking techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Among the many spices that play an important role in forming the distinctive taste of the archipelago, sweet soy sauce is a key element in Indonesian cuisine.

Although its existence is often used as a versatile complement, sweet soy sauce is often used in various types of dishes, from soups to grilled dishes.

Dishes such as fried rice, chicken satay, and grilled fish are real examples of dishes that often use sweet soy sauce to enhance their flavor.

In fact, in some traditional dishes such as semur, sweet soy sauce is not only a complement but also the main key in providing deep flavor characteristics.

"Sweet soy sauce provides a distinctive sweet and savory taste, creating a perfect harmony when combined with local spices," explained Andrew Hallatu, Head of External Communication ABC Indonesia, at the 'Ngobrol Baik Bareng ABC' (NBBA) event in Jakarta, recently.

This complementary ingredient made from fermented soybeans has a long historical value, which began with the arrival of Chinese traders to the archipelago. Initially, the soy sauce that was introduced was salty soy sauce, which was then adjusted to local tastes by adding brown sugar, resulting in a distinctive sweet taste that is now widely known.

Good chat discussing sweet soy sauce (Dinno/VOI)

This adaptation process not only produces new products but also builds a taste identity that is closely related to Indonesian culinary culture.

In its development, sweet soy sauce has not only become an important element in traditional cooking, but has also continued to be adapted in modern culinary innovations. In creative kitchens, sweet soy sauce is often used to create sauces, marinades, or glazes in various international dishes.

The combination of sweet and savory flavors makes sweet soy sauce a flexible ingredient, suitable for use in various types of dishes, both local and global.

"I found that soy sauce is one part of the kitchen spices that is very attached to the tongues of the Indonesian people, especially used as an ingredient to enhance the sweet and savory taste," said Roby Bagindo, Food Enthusiast and founder of MasakTV on the same occasion.

In addition, sweet soy sauce also has a strong social dimension. Its presence in almost every household, from simple kitchens to professional kitchens, reflects how important this ingredient is in the daily lives of Indonesian people. From family events to big festivals, sweet soy sauce is always present as one of the ingredients that unites taste and togetherness.

This dark black cooking accompaniment is not only a simple cooking ingredient, but can also be considered a reflection of the long journey of Indonesian culinary culture.