Miso

Miso (

Typically, miso is salty, but its flavor and aroma depend on the ingredients and fermentation process. Different varieties of miso have been described as salty, sweet, earthy, fruity, and savory.

History

The origin of miso of Japan is not completely clear.

• Neolithic era (Jōmon period, 14,000–300 BC).^[4] These are called jōmon miso and are similar to the early fish- and soy-based sauces produced throughout East Asia
  .
• This miso predecessor originated in China during the third century BC. Hishio (醤) and other fermented soy-based foods likely were introduced to Japan at the same time as Buddhism in the sixth century AD.^[5][6] This fermented food was called shi. The beginning of the current origin of miso is mishō or mishou (未醤) in the Nara period (710–794);^[7][8] with hishio still meaning beans. It is believed that the word changed to Misho and then Miso.^[7][8]

In the

During the Edo period (1603–1868), miso was also called hishio (醤) and kuki (豆支)^[9][10] and various types of miso that fit with each local climate and culture emerged throughout Japan.

Today, miso is produced industrially in large quantities, and traditional homemade miso has become a rarity. In recent years, many new types of miso have appeared, including ones with added soup stocks or calcium, made with beans other than soy, or having reduced salt for health, among other varieties available.

Ingredients

The ingredients used to produce miso may include any mix of

• mugi (麦): barley
• tsubu (粒): whole wheat/barley
• genmai (玄米): brown rice
• moromi (醪): chunky, healthy (kōji is unblended)
• nanban (南蛮): mixed with hot chili pepper for dipping sauce
• taima (大麻): hemp seed
• sobamugi (蕎麦): buckwheat
• hadakamugi (裸麦): Highland barley
• nari (蘇鉄): made from
  Buddhist
  temple diet
• gokoku (五穀): "five-grain": soy, wheat, barley, proso millet, and foxtail millet

Many regions have their own specific variation on the miso standard. For example, the soybeans used in Sendai miso are much more coarsely mashed than in normal soy miso.

Miso made with rice such as shinshu miso (信州味噌) and shiro miso (白味噌) are called kome miso (米味噌).

Types and flavor

The taste, aroma, texture, and appearance of miso vary by region and season. Other important variables that contribute to the flavor of a particular miso include temperature, duration of fermentation, salt content, variety of kōji, and fermenting vessel. The most common flavor categories of miso are:

• Shiromiso, "white miso"
• Akamiso, "red miso"
• Awasemiso, "mixed miso"

Although white and red (shiromiso and akamiso) are the most common misos available, different varieties may be preferred in particular regions of Japan. In the eastern

• Kome miso (米味噌) or "rice miso" can be yellow, yellowish white, red, etc. Whitish miso is made from boiled soybeans, and reddish miso is made from steamed soybeans. Kome miso is consumed more in eastern Japan and the Hokuriku and Kinki areas.
• Mugi miso (麦味噌) or "barley miso" is a whitish miso produced in Kyushu, western Chugoku, and Shikoku areas. Another reddish mugi miso is produced in the northern Kanto area. Mugi miso has a peculiar smell.
• Mame miso (豆味噌) or "soybean miso" is a darker, more reddish brown than kome miso. This is not as sweet as some other varieties, but it has some astringency and good
  hatchō miso (八丁味噌).^[11] Hatchō miso is an Okazaki, Aichi specialty and has its origins in Mikawa Province during the Sengoku period
  . The processing method with large wooden barrels and stones on the lid remains unchanged.
• Chōgō (調合) or Awase (合わせ) miso, or "mixed miso", comes in many types because it is a mixture or compound of other varieties of miso. This may improve the weak points of each type of miso. For example, mame miso is very salty, but when combined with kome miso, the finished product has a mild taste.
• Akamiso (赤味噌) or red miso is aged, sometimes for more than one year. As a result, due to the Maillard reaction, the color changes gradually from white to red or black, thus giving it the name red miso. Characteristics of the flavor are saltiness and some astringency with umami. It is often a much stronger-tasting miso. Factors in the depth of color are the formula of the soybeans and the quantity used. Generally, steamed soybeans are more deeply colored than boiled soybeans.
• Shiromiso (白味噌) or white miso is the most widely produced miso, made in many regions of the country. Its main ingredients are rice, barley, and a small quantity of soybeans. If more soybeans were added, the miso would be red or brown. Compared with red miso, white miso has a very short fermentation time. The taste is sweet, and the umami is soft or light (compared to red miso).

Chemical properties of flavor and aroma compounds

The distinct and unique aroma of miso determines its quality. Many reactions occur among the components of miso, primarily the Maillard reaction, a non-enzymatic reaction of an amino group with a reducing sugar. The volatile compounds produced from this reaction give miso its characteristic flavor and aroma. Depending on the microorganism in combination with the variety of soybean or cereal used, many flavor compounds are produced that give rise to the different types of miso. Fermentation products such as

Barley miso is a traditional farmhouse variety made for personal use. Often called "rural miso", domestic barley is used more than imported barley. Containing glutamic acid and aromatic compounds such as ferulic acid and vanillic acid, barley miso is distinguished by a characteristic flavor.^[12]

Fermentation

Miso's unique properties and flavor profile can be attributed to the compounds produced through the fermentation process. Miso, depending on the variety, consists of a starter culture called kōji (麹), soybeans, and usually a grain (either rice, barley, or rye).^[14] The miso goes through a two-step process; first creating the kōji, and second the kōji is combined with the other components, and the mixture is left to be enzymatically digested, fermented and aged.

Creating koji

Koji is produced by introducing the

A. oryzae is an aerobic fungus and is the most active fermenting agent in koji

To create optimal conditions for enzymatic production and the growth of A. oryzae, the koji's environment must be carefully regulated. Temperature, humidity, and oxygen content are all important factors in maximizing mold growth and enzyme production and preventing other harmful bacteria from producing. Once the koji has reached a desirable flavor profile, it is usually mixed with salt to prevent further fermentation.[18]

Although other strains of fungi have been used to produce koji, A. oryzae is the most desirable because of several properties, including the fact that it does not produce aflatoxin.^[16]

Storage and preparation

Miso typically comes as a paste in a sealed container requiring refrigeration after opening. Natural miso is a living food containing many beneficial microorganisms such as Tetragenococcus halophilus, which can be killed by overcooking. For this reason, the miso should be added to soups or other foods prepared just before they are removed from the heat. Using miso without any cooking may be even better.^[19] Outside Japan, a popular practice is to add miso only to foods that have cooled to preserve kōjikin cultures in miso. Nonetheless, miso and soy foods play a large role in the Japanese diet, and many cooked miso dishes are popular.

Usage

Miso is a part of many Japanese-style meals. It most commonly appears as the main ingredient of miso soup, which is eaten daily by much of the Japanese population. The pairing of plain rice and miso soup is a fundamental unit of Japanese cuisine. This pairing is the basis of a traditional Japanese breakfast.

Miso is used in many other types of soup and soup-like dishes, including some kinds of ramen, udon, nabe, and imoni. Generally, such dishes have the title miso prefixed to their name (for example, miso-udon) and have a heavier, earthier flavor and aroma than other Japanese soups that are not miso-based.

Many traditional confections use a sweet, thick miso glaze, such as

-like to thin and drippy.

Soybean miso is used to make a type of pickle called misozuke.^[20] These pickles are typically made from cucumber, daikon, napa cabbage, or eggplant, and are sweeter and less salty than the standard Japanese salt pickle.

Other foods with miso as an ingredient include:

• dengaku (miso sweetened with molasses used for grilling)
• mochi
  covered in miso)
• miso-braised vegetables or mushrooms
• marinades: fish or chicken can be mixed with miso and rice wine overnight to be grilled
• corn on the cob in Japan is often coated with shiro miso, wrapped in foil and grilled
• sauces: sauces like misoyaki (a variant on teriyaki)
• dips: used as a dip to eat with vegetables (e.g., cucumbers, daikon, carrots, etc.)
• side dish: miso is often eaten as a condiment and a side dish. Mixed or cooked miso with spices or vegetables is called okazu-miso (おかず味噌), often eaten along with hot rice or spread over onigiri

Nutrition and health

Claims that miso is high in vitamin B₁₂ have been contradicted in some studies.^[21]

Some experts suggest that miso is a source of Lactobacillus acidophilus.^[22] Miso is relatively high in salt which could contribute to increased blood pressure in the small percentage of the population with sodium-sensitive prehypertension or hypertension. Several studies using salt-sensitive hypertensive models and analyzing long-term intake have suggested that miso lessens salt's effects on blood pressure.^[23][24][25]

See also

• Dòubànjiàng
  (豆瓣醬)
• Doenjang (된장)
• Dòuchǐ
  (豆豉)
• Hozon (保存)
• Fermented bean paste
• List of fermented soy products
• Marukome (マルコメ), a Japanese miso soup paste producer
• Soy sauce
• Tauco (Chinese: 豆醬; pinyin: dòujiàng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tāu-chiùⁿ)
• Tương
• Yellow soybean paste
• Nattō (納豆)

References

1. ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 2024-03-28.
2. PMID 30844154.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
   )
3. ^ Global Miso Market 2018-2022 (Technical report). Research and Markets. 27 March 2018. IRTNTR21132. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
4. ^ "お味噌の歴史 (The History of Miso)" (in Japanese). Yamajirushi Jyozo. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
5. ISBN 978-1-928914-22-8
   .
6. ISBN 978-1-84520-430-3
   .
7. ^ ^{a b} "Open innovation of Marukome and Panasonic to create "New Miso Life"". Panasonic.com. Naoaki Yamamoto. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
8. ^ ^{a b} "The origin of miso". Abokichi.com. Yumi Miyamoto. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
9. ^ khintan (2020-12-02). "All About Miso & Miso Soup Recipe". Indoindians.com. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
10. ^ Writers, YABAI (16 May 2017). "Everything You Need to Know About Miso Paste | YABAI - The Modern, Vibrant Face of Japan". YABAI. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
11. ^ "Recipes for Hatcho Miso". NaturalImport.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
12. ^ ^{a b c d} Steinkraus, Keith (2004). Industrialization of Indigenous Fermented Foods, Revised and Expanded. CRC Press. pp. 99–142.
13. PMID 27451212
    .
14. ^
    ISBN 9780199677337
    .
15. ISBN 978-0824780746
    .
16. ^ ^{a b} Robinson, Richard K. (2000). Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology, Volumes 1–3. Elsevier. pp. 66, 67.
17. ^ "amylolytic, adj". OED Online. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
18. ISBN 978-1580083362
    .
19. ISBN 978-1-58008-336-2
    .
20. ^ "Misozuke Recipe (Japanese miso pickle)". Whats4eats.com. Brad Harvey. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
21. ^ "Vitamin B12". The Vegetarian Society. The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom Limited. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
22. ^ Ehrlich, Steven D. (2011-05-24). "Lactobacillus acidophilus". University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Retrieved 2013-11-20.
23. PMID 32867671
    .
24. PMID 31371810
    .
25. S2CID 207516579
    .

Further reading

• Farnworth, Edward R. (2003). Handbook of Fermented Functional Foods. CRC Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8493-1372-1
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miso.

• Miso Online Japan Miso Promotion Board