What Are Coconut Aminos and How We Should Use it?

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Coconut Aminos is a gluten-free, vegan, soy-free, and GMO-free seasoning sauce made from the coconut tree blossom’s sap is often used as a healthy alternative to soy sauce, otherwise known to be very high in sodium and contain nasty added chemicals.

Organic Coconut Aminos is an excellent, nutritious condiment to stock in your healthy pantry at home. It has a low GI and a rich source of minerals, B vitamins, and other nutritional goodness! As the name suggests is naturally rich in amino acids, containing 17 different types. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of the body and are essential to our overall health and nutrition.

How Are Coconut Aminos Made?

Honest to Goodness Organic Coconut Aminos is purely made from partially fermented organic coconut sap, a little natural sea salt, and nothing else! Firstly, the coconut sap is hand-harvested or tapped from the trees above, then spontaneously fermented and aged in clay pots. It is then heated and evaporated together with a touch of natural sea salt.

In Srilanka, we saw firsthand the fantastic harvesting skills and techniques for collecting the coconut blossom sap! We tasted the fresh coconut sap and witnessed how the heating and evaporation occurs on the organic coconut farm.

How to Use Coconut Aminos

Coconut Aminos has a similar taste to tamari sauce or soy sauce but is less salty and has a slight hint of sweetness. You can use as a 1:1 substitute for those soy-based sauces in your cooking as it is excellent for making dressings, marinades, and dips, or can be used to enrich the flavor of sautéed veggies, rice, stir-fries, and soups also makes the distinct healthy dipping sauce for sushi and dumplings!

What Does Coconut Aminos Taste Like?

It’s dark, thick, salty, and slightly sweet–you can think of it as a syrup with high umami qualities, thanks to the fermentation process breaking down the proteins into flavorful amino acids glutamate. I’ve found the savory notes to be less intense, but still delicious.

Since it comes from a coconut tree, it’s soy-free and gluten-free, with a taste profile that makes it an ideal substitute for soy sauce.

Is Coconut Aminos More Better for You Than Soy Sauce?

Unlike soy sauce, don’t contain soy, wheat, or gluten—so if those are things you’re avoiding, are a decent alternative. Same with sodium: Soy sauce is super-high in the mineral (over 1000 mg in a tablespoon—that’s 42% of your Everyday Value), while has 270 mg per tablespoon. Yes, that’s better, but if your doc has told you to watch your sodium content, go easy on coconut aminos. “When you’re cooking with it, the sodium can certainly add up,” says Sassos.

Coconut Aminos Benefits

Coconut Aminos is a top-rated product for a variety of reasons. It sought after by many people following a paleo diet, however with its own individual and delicious flavor, Coconut Aminos is now a must-have staple in everyone’s healthy pantry.
Coconut Aminos is soy-free and gluten-free; it is a generally used condiment by people suffering from allergies or food sensitivities and seeking a healthy, tasty seasoning sauce.
It has 65% less sodium than soy sauce, so it is also a popular choice for lower sodium intake.

Gluten-free Tamari Tips

Always read ingredient labels to assure your bottle of Tamari is 100% gluten-free.
Remember that it’s challenging to distinguish between soy sauce, Tamari, and coconut aminos based on looks alone. Poured into a glass jar, they all view the same.
If eating out, remember not only to request to see the bottle of gluten-free Tamari but also to verify that soy sauce or other sauces (such as ponzu, also made from soy sauce) were not applied as a marinade for any ingredients in your meal.
If eating sushi, remember always to verify that the rice is gluten-free. Many sushi restaurants will use malt vinegar when cooking rice, which is not gluten-free.
This is the brand of tamari and coconut aminos that I buy.

FAQs

Q: What can I apply as a substitute for coconut aminos?

A: Here’s what you’ll need: • Beef broth – To get that savory, umami flavor. • Balsamic vinegar – Adds a little sweetness and acid balance. • Fish sauce – Another layer of umami and salty goodness. • Tomato paste – Add’s depth of flavor and thickness to the sauce. • Onion powder – Flavor to assist mimic a true coconut aminos taste.

Q: Where do I find coconut aminos?

A: Most grocery stores stock coconut aminos near the spices and seasonings, in the health food aisle, or next to the soy sauce. You can also find it at any natural foods store and from online grocery retailers.

Q: Can I substitute Tamari for coconut aminos?

A: Coconut aminos are yet dark in color and have that salty, umami flavor, though carry far smaller sodium and have a milder, slightly sweeter, and maybe more bland flavor. They’re not as strong in flavor as Tamari but are a great soy sauce alternative.

Q: Do I need to refrigerate coconut aminos?

A: Coconut Aminos last six months when opened and must be stored in the refrigerator.

Conclusion

Coconut aminos is a traditional soy sauce substitute made from fermented coconut palm sap. Its soy-, wheat- and gluten-free and much lower in sodium than soy sauce, making it a reliable alternative. While it’s often associated with the same health benefits as coconut, no studies have confirmed this. It’s not rich in nutrients and should not be considered a health food.

Moreover, it’s important to remember that coconut aminos are not entirely salt-free, so portion size should still be monitored for low-sodium diets. Besides, it’s more expensive and less available than traditional soy sauce, which may be a significant barrier for some people. Overall, coconut aminos ranks well as an option for soy sauce. Taste preferences vary, but you won’t know if you like it until you try it. Share your valuable thoughts and suggestions about coconut aminos in the comment box section below.