老抽 (lǎochōu) · dark soy sauce, aged soy sauce (for coloring)

Measure Word

一瓶老抽 píng

Meanings

1 dark soy sauce
2 aged soy sauce (for coloring)

About the ingredient

调料 Seasonings

Thick, nearly black soy sauce that tastes sweeter and less salty than light soy, made by cooking soy sauce with caramel. A little gives red-braised pork, fried rice and noodles a glossy deep brown.

Contains soy and wheat

Used in 1 dish

上海粗炒 Shànghǎi cūchǎo

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

红烧肉要加点老抽上色。

Hóngshāoròu yào jiā diǎn lǎochōu shàngsè.

Add some dark soy sauce to red-braised pork for color.

HSK 7-9

生抽调味，老抽上色。

Shēngchōu tiáowèi, lǎochōu shàngsè.

Light soy for flavor, dark soy for color.

Tips

usage

Always paired against 生抽 (light soy). Old soy is thicker and darker, used mainly for color in braising; light soy is used for seasoning. Mixing them up turns a dish muddy.