What are Coconut Aminos and how do we make them?

Coconut aminos are soy-sauce-like bottles of divine goodness and tastiness that you need in your kitchen. We have three delectable varieties: All Purpose, Teriyaki, and Barbeque. Coconut aminos are a veritable blend of organic coconut sap, coconut nectar, coconut sugar, garlic and sea salt. All ingredients are organic, and all make their way into a bottle of our coconut aminos for mighty good reasons.

So, how are they made, why are they made, and why do you need them so badly?

How we make our coconut aminos

The ingredients of our coconut aminos are very simple. We start with pure raw coconut sap which is collected from the coconut tree’s inflorescence (or flower). We naturally ferment the sap into a vinegar. During this process we do not add any fermentation agents or processing aids. We then add some caramelised sweetness and a slight stickiness by adding coconut nectar and coconut sugar. Finally, we add in some garlic and a pinch of sea salt. For our barbeque aminos we add some tarragon and for the teriyaki aminos we add some ginger. The last process (which makes our coconut aminos unique) we add in pure, raw coconut sap, which is naturally preserved by all the other ingredients.

It’s super-important to note that we make our aminos by blending together these ingredients, rather than boiling them up. This means that the raw goodness of the coconut sap stays as raw goodness all the way up to your kitchen. There’s no high-heat cooking of the sap, so the micro-nutrients which coconut sap is so famed for stay present and correct.

As such, coconut aminos are also both soy and gluten free (not the case with most soy sauces!). So yes, organic, vegan, soy free, additive and preservative free – it ticks all the boxes and packs a fabulous punch of flavour too.

We only make small batches of our aminos, caring about a sustainable approach for our farmers and partners in The Philippines where it is made, not so far from the coconut trees where we get the sap from!

Our batches of coconut aminos then head over to UK shores where we lovingly package it up in Wales, before it wings its way to your kitchen.

What are the health benefits of coconut aminos?

Coconut sap is a bit of a health wonder. We love the stuff because it’s so good for you. That’s why, when we were coming up with our coconut aminos recipes, we were adamant that coconut sap would stay in the aminos raw.

·         Amino acids

These amigos weren’t named by aminos accident! They are jam-packed with amino acids which our bodies use for repair and replenishment. Amino acids are the bedrock of protein creation. So whether you’re a fitness buff, want to arm yourself against the muscle loss of ageing, or have an injury that needs some TLC, coconut aminos are on your side.

·         Low GI

Yes we’ve put some sticky sweet stuff into our coconut aminos in the form of a smidgen of coconut nectar and coconut sugar (believe us; you’ll thank us for the fantastic taste). But, we’ve done so with care. By choosing coconut nectar and coconut sugar over alternatives, you benefit from a lower GI. Indeed, the GI rating is suggested to be about 35 for coconut nectar compared to 60 for standard white refined sugar. What does this mean? In short, it helps your blood sugar levels stay a bit more stable which is important.

·         Vitamins galore

Coconut sap is rich in all sorts of micro antioxidants and nutrients; so many that we don’t have room to rave about them all. One vitamin in rich supply is vitamin C which helps boost your natural immunity, can lower blood pressure and gives your iron absorption a helping hand. Alongside vitamin C sits a bundle of B vitamins. These energy giving, metabolism organising, cell-health wonders are super essential for mental and physical health.

We’ve also kept the sodium content of our coconut aminos lower than standard soy sauce and many other cooking sauces. We’ve put a touch of sea salt in there to enhance the flavour and give it the umami tang you’re looking for, but, in our humble opinion, we’ve got the balance just right so it’s not a sodium-nightmare.

There’s something else too. Many brands of soy sauce contain MSG. MSG is pretty much something any health-conscious soul wants to avoid. But if you’re a fan of Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and other East Asian dishes, it’s nearly impossible to cook without soy sauce. We’ve solved that for you.

In short, we’ve created coconut aminos so that you’ve got some versatile cooking sauces, styled in the mould of soy sauce, without any of the potential nasties and pitfalls. So yes, they are kind of essential if you want authentic but vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, organic, good-for-you stir fries, Malaysian curries, Pad Thai, or whatever other East Asian dish floats your boat.

Let’s get cooking with coconut aminos

If you see soy sauce in a recipe then you can simply switch in coconut aminos. Indeed, our coconut aminos carry their own weight, so you may need a little less. Our All Purpose Coconut Aminos will be your best starting point, so always have a bottle ready to hand.

Really, the recipe world is your oyster. So look up East Asian recipes of your favourite style, from creamy coconut laksas to marinated tofu, salmon or veg, and simply get cracking.

If you want some good starting points then whip up a steamy warming bowl of Miso Baked Tofu and Coconut Broth or enjoy a lazy Sunday brunch of Poached Egg, Asparagus & Coconut Aminos. These recipes have been written specifically for our coconut aminos so they really know what they are on about.

Once you’ve fallen in love with the All Purpose Coconut Aminos, which will take, ooh, about one dish, you can extend your repertoire to include our Teriyaki Sauce Coconut Aminos and our Barbeque Sauce Coconut Aminos.

The Teriyaki Sauce Coconut Aminos  retains the harmonious blend of sweet garlic and umami salt with a touch of ginger. You’re going to find that this sauce becomes your best buddy in dipping sauces, marinades and every stir fry, ever. Once more, if the recipe calls for Teriyaki sauce, you can just swap this in here too.

The Barbeque Sauce Coconut Aminos  has a touch more stickiness and nectar as well as some tarragon to make exactly what you need whether you’re going down the smoky American BBQ or slightly zingy Korean BBQ route. You heard it here first: try it in your veggie burger recipe!

Hopefully we’ve got you excited about cooking up a storm. Can’t decide which to choose? Get all three with the Three Aminos!