If you’ve ever explored cooking with Asian flavors, eaten sushi, or had Chinese takeout, you are likely to have come across the delicious, salty condiment known as Tamari. Tamari is a Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. Its salty, umami flavor can be used in a wide range of Japanese cooking, cold dishes, dressings, and dipping.
If you have been trying to figure out where to find tamari in grocery stores, we would point you to the aisles to check. We would also share a list of reliable in-store and online grocers that typically carry the product.
What Aisle Is Tamari Located In Grocery Stores?
While at the grocery store, your first stop when hunting for tamari should be the international aisle. Tamari is often found among other Asian condiments like soy sauce and hoisin sauce. Next, you should head over to the condiment/spice section.
Tamari is often used to enhance the flavor of various dishes, so some grocery stores prefer to stock them there. If your grocery store has a vegetarian/vegan food aisle, you might also want to check there for tamari.
Read Also: Where to Find Oyster Sauce in Grocery Store
Where To Buy Tamari Near You
Fortunately, there are quite a number of stores where you can buy tamari from different brands. If you couldn’t find it elsewhere, the stores below are some of your best bets.
1. Amazon
Amazon is one of the best places to buy tamari if you’re in urgent need of it. You will get a wide range of brand options to choose from, plus their online shopping is convenient and they offer home delivery services. If you use tamari often, you should try shopping for tamari by the gallon on Amazon Such bulk deals are cheaper than buying in units.
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2. Walmart
You can use the online store locator on Walmart’s official website, to help you confirm what brands are available in-store and online. However, Walmart typically stocks tamari brands like San-J, Yamasa, and Eden in the condiment aisle.
3. Whole Foods Market
At Whole Foods, head over to the international aisle to shop for tamari among other Asian products.
4. Safeway
Safeway stocks brands like Kikkoman and San-J, on the international aisle.
Read Also: Where is Tahini at Safeway?
5. Publix
You will find several brand options of tamari to choose from, in the international aisle of Publix.
6. Kroger
Kroger sells various brands of tamari like Simple Truth, and Eden.
7. Local Health Food Store
Being a natural product, tamari should be relatively easy to find at any health food store. Check the condiments aisle, and the section for Asian products if they have an international aisle.
8. Asian Markets
If there are any Asian ethnic markets in your neighborhood, you should be able to pick up different brands of tamari there.
Great Ways To Use Tamari
The salty, savory liquid of tamari can be added to give a dash of flavor to various recipes. Here are a few you could try out at home:
1. Use It In Soups and Sauces
Tamari is always a handy ingredient to have in your kitchen cabinet when cooking. From the simple stir-fry sauces to the more robust vegetable soup, tamari can be used to boost their flavor.
2. Use It To Season Mock Meats
What better way is there to explore the umami flavor of tamari? You can use it in tofu, bacon, and several other mock meat recipes. However, you might want to adjust the seasonings in the recipe when using tamari, due to its saltiness.
3. Use It In Salad Dressings
Tamari can be used in salads, wraps, and even roasted veggies. Rather than using the same salad recipe over and over again, you could try out a tamari salad dressing with a dash of ginger for enhanced flavor.
Substitutes For Tamari
It could be quite perplexing when making a recipe that calls for tamari, but you don’t have it. Whether you are working your way around an allergy, or you simply can’t find it, here are some great alternatives that you can use in its place.
1. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is probably the best substitute for tamari there is. Both sauces have a similar appearance, and taste alike. Many people even consider them to be the same. However, there are some distinct differences.
Soy sauce contains wheat, so you might want to avoid it if you have an allergy, or are making a recipe that ought to be gluten-free. Also, soy sauce has a slightly higher salt content than tamari. So, you might want to use ¾ the amount in your recipe.
2. Coconut/Liquid Aminos
If you are working around a soy or gluten allergy, these two are the alternatives for you, as they are both soy and gluten-free. They can be substituted at a 1:1 ratio, in any recipe that calls for tamari. However, coconut amino is less salty, so you might want to add a little bit more. Liquid amino, on the other hand, has a similar salt profile to soy sauce.
3. Fish Sauce
Fish sauce is another great alternative to tamari, popularly used in Asian cuisines. It mirrors tamari in the umami quality it gives to dishes. However, it has a pungent flavor and a much higher salt content.
Benefits of Using Tamari
For a condiment seemingly simple, tamari has a robust nutritional profile. Here are a few of its distinct benefits:
1. Gluten-Free
Unlike most of its counterparts, the production of tamari does not include the addition of any grains, like wheat. So if you are sensitive to gluten and wish to avoid it, it’s best to stick with tamari. However, you should always double-check the brand and labels, to ensure that the product is completely gluten-free.
2. No Additives
Another significant benefit of using tamari is that the product is less likely to contain additives. It is derived and processed naturally, although this feature could vary according to brands. So, if you are heavy on an all-natural lifestyle, or want to take a shot at it, tamari is for you.
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