A thick soy sauce with little or no wheat

How does usukuchi soy sauce differ?

It is lighter in color but saltier

Japanese Sauces Quiz: Places, People and Key Facts

The town of Noda near Tokyo has brewed soy sauce for centuries and is home to Kikkoman, and this Japanese sauces quiz explores the condiments that define Japanese flavor. Learn about ponzu, teriyaki, tonkatsu sauce from Bulldog, sesame goma dare, Kewpie mayonnaise and the fermented secrets of miso.

Start Japanese Sauces Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Noda
Which town is famous for Kikkoman soy sauce?
Ponzu
What is ponzu?
Teriyaki
What does teriyaki mean?
Tonkatsu
Which brand is famous for tonkatsu sauce?
Kewpie
What makes Kewpie mayonnaise distinctive?
Goma
What is goma dare made from?
Tamari
What is tamari?
Mentsuyu
What is mentsuyu used for?
Yuzu kosho
What is yuzu kosho?
Usukuchi
How does usukuchi soy sauce differ?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which town is famous for Kikkoman soy sauce?
Answer: Noda
Choshi is another soy sauce town.
Q2: What is ponzu?
Answer: A citrus soy sauce
It uses yuzu or sudachi.
Q3: What does teriyaki mean?
Answer: Glossy grilling
Teri means shine.
Q4: Which brand is famous for tonkatsu sauce?
Answer: Bulldog
It is thick and fruity.
Q5: What makes Kewpie mayonnaise distinctive?
Answer: It uses only egg yolks
It was launched in 1925.
Q6: What is goma dare made from?
Answer: Sesame
It is used with shabu-shabu.
Q7: What is tamari?
Answer: A thick soy sauce with little or no wheat
It is a miso by-product.
Q8: What is mentsuyu used for?
Answer: Noodle dipping sauce
It combines dashi, soy and mirin.
Q9: What is yuzu kosho?
Answer: A paste of yuzu peel and chili
It comes from Kyushu.
Q10: How does usukuchi soy sauce differ?
Answer: It is lighter in color but saltier
It is popular in Kansai.

Japanese Sauces Quiz – The Flavors in the Bottle

Sauces and condiments are essential in Japanese cooking. Soy sauce, made by fermenting soybeans and wheat, is the most important, and towns like Noda and Choshi have brewed it for centuries. Light usukuchi and rich tamari are regional styles.

Other classic sauces include ponzu, a citrus soy sauce, teriyaki glaze, thick fruity tonkatsu sauce from brands like Bulldog and mentsuyu for dipping noodles. Goma dare sesame sauce accompanies hot pots, and yuzu kosho adds citrus heat.

Japanese mayonnaise, especially Kewpie, made with egg yolks only, has a devoted following. These sauces reflect Japan's love of umami and balance, and many have become popular in kitchens around the world.

What This Quiz Teaches

Home cooks and food lovers will enjoy these questions.

Where soy sauce is brewed
What ponzu is
What teriyaki means
What Kewpie uses
Which sauces suit noodles

Did You Know?

Okonomiyaki sauce is thick and sweet.
Rice vinegar is mild.
Shichimi is a seven-spice blend.
Miso comes in white and red.
Worcestershire sauce inspired Japanese sosu.