Patent Publication Number: US-3878302-A

Title: Production of soy sauce

Description:
United States Patent Luksas et al.  
 [ Apr. 15, 1975 Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 36.427, May 11, 1970, Pat. No. 3,711,303.  
 US. Cl. 426/46; 426/60; 426/62;  
  426/203; 426/204; 426/221 Int. Cl A231 1/20 Field of Search 99/145; 426/46 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1970 Mogi et a1 99/145 3,552,981 1/1971 Luksas 99/145 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 3,542 6/1962 Japan 99/145 Primary Examiner&#39;Samih N. Zaharna Assistant Examiner-J. M. Hunter Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman, Darby and Cushman [57] ABSTRACT Soy sauce is produced in a relatively short time by fermenting Maromi with an inoculant selected from Saccharomyces and Debaryomyces or a Maromi isolate.  
 17 Claims, No Drawings PRODUCTION OF SOY SAUCE This is a division. of application Ser. No. 36.427 filed May ll. 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,71 L303.  
  The present invention relates to the production of soy sauce and to soy sauce having the natural flavor and taste&#39;of aged soy sauce. The invention further relates to such soy sauce which may be produced in a relatively short time.  
  Historical records indicate that the Chinese have been using soybean products for well over 3.000 years. A wide variety of foods have been developed by the Chinese based on soybeans as a principal ingredient. Soy sauce, one of the older Chinese products. has become an important condiment in the United States. not only for its use as a flavoring agent alone, but as an ingredient for mixing with other flavoring agents to produce additional sauces and the like. e.g., Worcestershire sauce. which contain from to percent soy sauce. Soy sauce may be manufactured by two main processes.  
  Soy sauce may be made by fermentation or enzymatic hydrolysis of protein to give amino acids and lowmolecular-weight polypeptides or by the acid hydrolysis process. The former of these two processes. i.e.. the fermentation process, is by far the more important process, since it gives the soy sauce a full body and flavor as opposed to the acid hydrolysis process. Hence, most of the soy sauce, especially the higher quality Oriental type soy sauce, manufactured in the United States is made by the fermentation process.  
  Briefly stated, the fermentation process for preparing soy sauce comprises preparing a mixture of washed, cooked and drained soybeans with parched wheat, or other grains or cereals, and adding to the mixture (without additional water being used) a Koji culture. The Koji culture is a naturally produced culture, and the exact composition of Koji culture is not fully known. However, generally speaking Koji culture contains mold, yeast and lactic acid bacteria. The mixture of soybeans, parched wheat and the Koji culture is allowed to biologically alter for 4 to 10 days and this biologically altered mixture is called Koji. The Koji is added to an aqueous salt solution. The mixture of aqueous salt solution and Koji is called Maromi. The Maromi is then allowed to ferment for an extended time period. While some soy sauce flavor can be developed after fermentation of the Maromi for as little as 30 days, for full-bodied and full-flavored soy sauce, the fermentation is normally allowed to proceed for at least six months and preferably up to a year or more, e.g., 18 months. After the fermentation is complete and the desired degree of body and flavor has been reached, the fermented mass is pressed and the liquid obtained therefrom is soy sauce. The soy sauce may be further mixed with other agents such as salt. coloring, preservatives and the like. As can be noted from the above discussion of the fermentation process for producing soy sauce, the fermentation step requires that the Maromi be allowed to ferment for an extended period of time and that large holding vessels for fermenting the mixture are necessary to produce sizable amounts of soy sauce. As can be also appreciated, it would be desirable to shorten the time of the Maromi fermentation step required to produce a full-bodied and full-flavored soy sauce. Equally important, however, is the requirement that any shortened fermentation time of the Maromi must still result in a full-flavored and fullbodied soy sauce, of the quality expected by the general consuming public.  
  Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a process for preparing a full-bodied and full-flavored soy sauce with a shortened Maromi fermentation time. lt is a further object of the invention to provide a soy sauce of the fermented type which is full-flavored and full-bodied but which has been produced from Maromi that was fermented in a relatively short period of time. Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following disclosure and claims.  
  Basic to the present invention is the discovery that certain organisms will develop the characteristic soy sauce flavor in fermenting Maromi. Having discovered these flavor producing organisms, a process has been devised wherein these organisms are grown during the fermentation of Maromi at a very rapid rate to produce the characteristic soy sauce flavor in a relatively short fermentation time.  
  In order to completely appreciate the significance of the present invention, reference is made in detail to the conventional process for producing a fermented soy sauce. The conventional process is generally referred to in the art as the Koji and Maromi&#34; process. The Koji culture is essentially a starter inoculant. the total composition of which is not fully known to the art, as noted above. In a general sense, Koji culture is simply a biologically active portion of a Koji and which may be optionally concentrated and dried. The origin of the first Koji culture is lost in antiquity and in the Koji and Maromi process it is necessary to have a Koji culture in order to produce additional soy sauce. Koji culture can be obtained on the open market. and the principal sources of Koji culture are Japan and China, especially Japan. Koji culture may be obtained in a liquid form as well as the dry form. noted above, and may be mixed with prepared soybeans and wheat to produce additional Koji culture or produce Koji from which soy sauce is made by fermentation. In other words, Koji culture is a starter culture of not fully known composition which has been handed down from generation to generation for use in producing soy sauce via the Koji and Maromi&#34; process.  
  ln the preferred process in the art, an equal mixture of roasted soybeans and boiled soybeans (with excess liquid removed) is mixed with an equal amount of roasted wheat. After thorough mixing of the roasted and boiled soybeans with the roasted wheat, the mixture is placed in a suitable vessel and inoculated with Koji culture. The Koji culture may be concentrated and powdered Koji culture which is commercially available or the Koji culture may be simply a biologically active part of a previously produced Koji. Generally from 1 to 10 percent by weight of the soybean, wheat, etc. of the Koji culture, which is obtained from a previously produced Koji, is used as the inoculant in the mixture. When concentrated powdered Koji culture is used as the inoculant, the amount thereof may vary between 1 to parts by weight of powdered Koji culture to 1,000 to 200,000 parts by weight of soybean, wheat. etc. This addition of Koji culture, either in concentrated, powdered form or from a previously produced Koji is well known in the art and is conventional. Hence, any conventional amounts may be used. ln either case, the inoculated mixture is fermented for 3 to 10 days, preferably about 5 days, at 60 to l 10F, especially about 68 to 90F. Generally speaking the temperature of fermentation will be between 80 and 84F. During this period the Koji culture produces growth mainly of largely unidentified molds, yeasts and bacteria in the mixture of soybeans and wheat. (This mixture of soybeans, wheat and growing Koji culture organisms is referred to as Koji.) After this initial fermentation period, the mixture of soybeans and wheat with the Koji culture organisms growing therein (now referred to as Koji) is placed in an 18 w/v percent aqueous salt solution. Generally from 5 to 40 w/v percent of the Koji is placed in the salt solution. This mixture of the Koji and salt solution is referred to as Maromi. The Maromi is mixed in a large tank to obtain an even distribution. Thereafter mixing may or may not be performed, depending upon the particular manufacturer making the soy sauce. Mixing of the Maromi is, however, not necessary. The Maromi is then allowed to ferment at 60 to 110F, especially 68 to 90F and ideally 80 to 84F for an extended period of time. While this extended period of time may vary widely depending upon the flavor, body and bouquet desired, good quality soy sauce is only produced with fermentations which are allowed to proceed for at lesat 9 months and the better fullflavored soy sauce is allowed to ferment for as long as 18 months, especially the flavor associated with Oriental style soy sauce. At the end of the fermentation period, the liquid associated with the Maromi is separated from the solids. The solids are discarded and the liquid is further processed, e.g., pasteurized and compounded with other ingredients to produce soy sauce.  
  Broadly stated, the present process for producing soy sauce comprises fermenting conventional Koji, as described above, in the presence of specific organisms, as hereinafter defined, and in a salt solution with mixing under an inert gas blanket with short periods of aeration. continuing the mixing and fermenting with intermittent aeration for up to 5 weeks and pressing the resulting fermented mixture to obtain a full-flavored, fullbodied, Oriental style soy sauce.  
  It is greatly preferred that the Koji be comminuted to a relatively small particle size, e.g., by grinding. After grinding, all particles should pass through a number 3 US sieve screen, but much improved results are obtained when all of the particles will pass through at least a number 6 US sieve screen, and especially the average particle size should be less than 1,000 microns, e.g., l to 100 microns. Any conventional type grinder or comminuting apparatus may be used for commuting the Koji. for example, an Urschel mill, a gear grinder, a Rietz mill or a stone grinder. However, other grinders such as ball grinders, rod grinders, hammer mills, etc., may be used. It is only necessary that the particle size after grinding be within the range noted above. However, it is most important that during grinding the temperature of the Koji be kept below 145F, especially below 130F, e.g. below 100F, in order to prevent the destruction of the enzymes contained in the Koji. Salt may be added to the Koji either before or after grinding. Conveniently the salt is added to the Koji prior to grinding so that the salt may be ground to a very small particle size during the grinding process. Alternately, instead of grinding the Koji, the soybeans, wheat, etc., from which the Koji is made may be ground prior to making the Koji, in the same manner as described above. In this case, the above noted temperature requirements are not so critical.  
  The Koji is then added to water and at this point salt is added, if the salt was not added during the grinding process. The resulting mixture of Koji, salt and water (called Maromi) should contain from 5 to 40 w/v percent of the Koji. especially between 20 and 25 w/v percent. The amount of salt in the resulting mixture, added either prior to grinding or after grinding, should be between about 6 to 30 w/v percent, especially between 15 and 20 and ideally about 18 w/v percent. While common sodium chloride is the preferred salt. especially in view of the relatively low cost thereof, other salts may be used, e.g., halides, especially the chlorides, of alkaline earth and alkali metals or ammonia. in any event the salt must be an acid salt and particularly suitable are sodium and potassium chloride, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. Organic salts may also be used, if desired, e.g., sodium acetate and sodium lactate. Nevertheless sodium chloride is the preferred salt and will normally be used in the process.  
  The mixture of Koji in the aqueous medium (hereafter referred to as Maromi) is then agitated and to the agitated Maromi is introduced an inoculant, as hereinafter further defined.  
  After inoculation, the Maromi is initially fermented for from 3 to 14 days. Of course longer periods than l4 days may be used but there is no substantial advantage in continuing the fermentation longerthan 14 days, and generally no advantage is obtained in continuing the fermentation beyond 7 days. The initial fermentation temperature will be between 60 and llOF and especially between 68 and 90F, e.g. and 84F. The initial fermentation is carried out in a closed vessel having an inert gas head space. But preferably, at least some intermittent aeration is carried out during the initial fermentation. The inert gas provides essentially anaerobic conditions and the anaerobic conditions may be insured by continuously or intermittently flushing with the inert gas. The intermittent aeration may be carried out by flushing the head space of the vessel with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, containing low levels of oxyshort periods of time. This may be accomplished by stirring the fermenting Maromi and sweeping oxygencontaining gases, e.g., air, through the head space of the closed vessel. The amount of oxygen in the head space of the closed vessel during these aerations may be quite low; similarly the dwell period to the oxygen containing gas may be quite short, and can vary from as quickly as the oxygen containing gas can replace the inert gas in the head space and the oxygen containing gas can be subsequently replaced by the inert gas to up to 2 or 3 hours or more. It is not necessary that the oxygen containing gas be allowed to dwell in the head space for any extended period of time and only a momentary displacement of theinert gas in the head space is necessary. However, generally speaking, the oxygencontaining gas will be allowed to .dwell in the head space from 1 to 50 minutes, especially from 4 to l5 minutes and preferably about 5 minutes. The frequency if aeration can vary widely and may be from as little as once every four days to as often as once every l() minutes, especially from once every 2 days to 5 times a day and preferably approximately 2 to 3 times a day. Of course, during this aeration period the fermenting Maromi should be agitated.  
  The purpose of these intermittent aeration steps is to essentially accomplish in the fermenting Maromi a microaerophillic condition. i.e.. a state of oxygen tension that is less than atmospheric and being on the border between aerobic and anaerobic conditions. As can be appreciated from the above. the initial fermentation can be under either anaerobic or microaerophillic conditions, but microaerophillic conditions are greatly preferred. It has been found that microaerophillic conditions, at least for part of the fermentation time, develop a superior full-flavor and full-body soy sauce according to the present invention.  
  Alternately, instead of intermittent aerations, as discussed above, microaerophillic conditions may be established on a continuous basis by emitting with the inert gas an extremely low level of oxygen into the head space of the closed vessel. The amount of oxygen introduced with the inert gas into the head space of the closed vessel will vary widely depending upon the volume of the head space, the volume of the fermenting mixture, the temperature of fermentation, the state of fermentation, etc. Hence no specific amounts of oxygen can be stated as a general case, but one skilled in the art can readily determine when microaerophillic conditions are produced within the fermenting Maromi and adjust the oxygen content to maintain those microaerophillic conditions. However, when the process is carried out using continues low levels of oxygen in the gases flushing the head space, it is necessary to continually determine that microaerophillic conditions are being maintained in the fermentation process. This of course requires a considerable amount of effort in following the fermentation process and for this reason it is preferred to intermittently aerate the fermenting Maromi, as noted above, rather than attempting to carry out the fermentation with continuous but low levels of oxygen in the inert gas.  
  After the initial fermentation period, preferably with aeration as described above, the fermenting Maromi is further fermented for an additional 5 to days or longer, if desired, either in a sealed vessel or with low levels of intermittent or continuous aeration. Hence, the second fermentation may be anaerobic, microaerophillic or mildly aerobic, but microaerophillic or mildly aerobic conditions are greatly preferred, since these conditions produce a superior ultimate flavor. Preferably the Maromi is agitated during the aerations.  
  It should also be clearly understood that while the best flavor, body and bouquet are developed according to the present process when aeration is carried out in the second fermentation step, an acceptable, but inferior flavor, bouquet and body may also be obtained without any aeration during the subsequent fermentation step and wherein the subsequent fermentation step is carried out under an inert atmosphere. However, since superior flavor, body and bouquet are developed when the fermentation is carried out with the above described aerations in the second fermentation step, this is the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
  The second fermentation may be carried out at the same temperatures as the initialfermentation and indeed the same procedure for introducing oxygen into the head space may be used. Hence, the second fermentation step may be simply an extension of the first fermentation step, especially where microaerophillic conditions are used in both the first and second fermentations.  
  After the subsequent second fermentation step. the solids are separated from the liquid by any conventional means. e.g,, filtering, pressing. centrifuging. vacuum distillation, etc. The recovered liquid is then mixed with conventional additives such as salts. edible coloring, e.g., caramel, other flavors. preservatives.  
 sweeteners. such as sugars. spices. etc. to produce the finished soy sauce ready for sale to the consuming public. Alternately, the product may be pasteurized either before or after the addition of the additives or before packaging. It is not necessary, however, to pasteurize the soy sauce and indeed some additional flavor will develop after packaging the soy sauce when the soy sauce has not been pasteurized.  
  The inoculant used with the present process is a yeast of the family Endomycetaceae, subfamily Sac charomycetoideae, tribe Saccharomyceteae, and particularly useful yeasts ofthe said tribe are selected from Saccharomyces and Debaryomyces.  
  For example, species and varieties which may be used include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. ellipsoideus, Saccharomyces pastorianus, Saccharomyces rouxii. Saccharomyces rouxii var. polymorphus, Saccharomyces exiguus, Saccharomyces marxianus, Saccharomyces bailii, Saccharomyces logos v. Laer et Denamur, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces willianus, Saccharomyces uvarum, Saccharomyces delbrueckii, Saccharomyces delbrueckii, var. mongolicus, Saccharomyces carsbergensis, Saccharomyces fragilis, Saccharomyces lactis, Saccharomyces rosei, Saccharomyces chevalieri, Saccharomyces bisporus, Saccharomyces pastori, Saccharomyces fermentati, Saccharomyces heterogenicus, Saccharomyces microellipsodes, Saccharomyces oviformis, Saccharomyces mellis, Saccharomyces italicus, Saccharomyces florentinus, Saccharomyces acidifaciens, Saccharomyces steineri, Saccharomyces fructuum, Saccharomyces elegans, and Saccharomyces veronae. All of the species and varieties are known to the art and are easily obtainable.  
  The particular species of Debaryomyces which may be used include Debaryomyces hansenii, Debaryomyces kloeckeri, Debaryomyces subglobosus, Debaryomyces vini, and Debaryomyces nicotianae. Likewise the species are known to the art and are readily obtainable.  
  For a complete discussion of the above-noted yeasts see The Yeasts, Lodder, J., et a1, North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1967, especially pages 1 l7l22 and 270-279, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing reference gives the key to Debaryomyces and Saccharomyces I for identification and isolation purposes.  
  However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the inoculant is isolated from Maromi since the isolated inoculant gives a better flavor to the soy sauce as opposed to the flavor obtained by using commercially available organisms. The isolated inoculant can be obtained by the following procedure. Prepare two aqueous solutions of YM agar powder (a commercially available material and fully identified hereinafter), one  
 with 18 w/v percent of NaCl and one with water only (approximately grams of YM agar powder per 100 ml. of aqueous NaCl or water). Stcrilize the solutions. e.g. at 250F for minutes, and prepare plates by placing l5 to 20 cc. of each solution in separate sterilized petri dishes and cool to ll3l2()F. lnoculate each plate with approximately 0.1 to 0.3 cc. of one year old Maromi (produced by the conventional process as noted above) by streaking out with a bacteriological needle. as is the common practice in the art. lncubate the inoculated plates for about 4 days at 71F (some growth will be noted after 48 hours). After incubation. with a bacteriological needle. remove the yeast growths from both the water and saline plates (one skilled in the art can easily identify yeast growths from bacteria and mold growths by visual observation) and place each different yeast growth on a separate YM agar plate prepared or YM agar plate with NaCl, as discussed above. Of course, yeasts taken from YM agar plus salt plates are placed on new YM agar plus salt plates and yeasts taken from YM agar plates are placed on new YM agar plates. Serially grow the yeasts on new YM agar plates and YM agar plus salt. respectively, as discussed above, and separate the yeast from each plate and grow on new plates again until essentially pure cultures of yeasts are obtained and the cultures are essentially free from bacteria and mold cultures. Of course, the serial growing of the yeasts is accomplished at the above temperatures and times. The number of serial growings of the yeasts will, of course, depend upon how carefully the yeasts are removed from the plates.  
  The above procedure is simply that for obtaining pure cultures by serial growths and is quite standard in the art and one skilled in the art will have absolutely no trouble in obtaining pure yeast cultures.  
  After all of the yeast cultures have been purified, as discussed above, the purified cultures are visually observed under daylight and compared with respect to the following appearances: dull, shiny (glistening) and flaky. The observer will see that some of the yeast cultures are strikingly different from other of the yeast cultures in these three respects, and dull, shiny and flaky cultures will be readily apparent. (With proper streaking ofthe first Maromi culture, these three appearances will be readily apparent in the first culture of the Maromi and by retaining only the cultures having these three appearances the number of cultures and number of serial growing may be materially reduced.)  
  The cultures having a dull, shiny or flaky appearance will be those cultures containing the organisms of the present invention. Any one of these cultures may be used to produce soy sauce. but a combination of the three cultures produce an exceptional flavor, body and bouquet.  
  An alternate procedure for obtaining the Maromi isolated organisms&#34; may be used. The procedure is follows. lnto distilled water is placed 4 w/v percent of agar and cooked at boiling to dissolve the agar. The dissolved agar solution is autoclaved and cooled to room temperature, or at least below 45C. Several plates are made from the agar by mixing the agar with an equal volume of naturally produced soy sauce (produced by the conventional Koji and Maromi process). The soy sauce used in mixing with the agar should be essentially pure soy sauce and suitable purity is obtained by passing the soy sauce through a bacteriological filter. After the mixture of soy sauce in agar solution has solidified in the plates, the plates are inoculated with aged Maromi obtained from a conventional Koji and Maromi process by streaking the plates with a bacteriological needle. The Maromi used for streaking the plates should be at least one month old Maromi but Maromi of twelve months old or longer is desired. The plates are then placed in a conventional anaerobic jar or any other like device to obtain anaerobic conditions. The plates are incubated at mild temperatures, e.g., up to 40C, especially at room temperature, for 2 to 4 months under anaerobic conditions. After about 1 month and especially after about two months. distinct colonies of organisms will be observed on the plates. There will be three very distinct and easily recognizable different colonies and essentially no other colonies of any appreciable size will be contained on the plates. These three distinct colonies. by visual observation. will be characterized in that one will be dry. flaky. white, large and rough; the second will be large. creamy, (buttery consistency); and the third will be mucoid and having a buttery consistency. If any doubt remains to the observer, although with reasonable care in producing the plates there should be no doubts, the colonies can be further identified by microscopic examination. The first-named colony will have organisms of 6 to 10 microns, the second named colony will have organisms of 6 to 10 microns, and the third-named colony will have organisms of 2 to 4 microns.  
 The three distinct colonies noted above, are picked from the plates and placed on separate plates made of- YM agar with 18 w/v percent of NaCl and the colonies are further grown to increase the amount thereof for at least 24 hours at mild temperatures, e.g., room temperature, but the growth may be continued as long as desired. However, little additional growth takes place after two weeks. The procedure of growing the separate colonies on separate YM plates is repeated until a substantial amount of the separate colonies is obtained. While no minimum amount is required, it is more convenient to work at least l/lOth gram of each of the colgional Research Lab (NRRL). The yeast medium broth consists of 3 grams of yeast extract, 3 grams of malt extract, 5 grams of beef extract, 10 grams of glucose and 1,000 cc. of water, i.e. essentially YM powder without the agar. The broth is prepared by boiling to dissolve and autoclaving to sterlize. One-third of the broth is placed in a flask. To this one-third of broth is added 1 v/v percent of Tween (Sorbitan mono-oleate) to lower the surface tension thereof. Salt (NaCl) is added to the Tween 80 containing broth and to additional flasks of the broth without Tween 80 to produce and 18 w/v percent solution of the salt. One flask is inoculated with the first-named organism (the dry, flaky. white, large organisms); one flask is inoculated with the second-named organism (large, creamy, buttery consistency organisms); and one flask is inoculated with the third-named mucoid organism. The first and secondnamed organisms are inoculated onto flasks which do not contain the Tween 80 and the third-named organism is inoculated onto the flask which does contain Tween 80. All of the flasks are incubated at mild tempratures, e.g., room temperature for at least two weeks. Longer times may be used as desired, but little growth takes place after four months. The growth is then sepa rated from the medium of the flasks in any desired manner, such as centrifuging (where the sediment of the centrifuging is the organisms) and the separated organisms are then combined and are suitable for use in inoculating the Koji in the manner noted above.  
  For purposes of the present specification and claims. the organisms which are isolated as described above by either technique. are defined by the terms Maromi isolated organisms and these terms are meant to describe the above noted isolated organisms. These terms, as used in the claims. are intended to convey this definition. When pure organisms. obtained commercially, are used, as opposed to isolating the organisms. as noted above, it is also preferrred that at least one Saccharomyces and at least one Debaryomyces be used in combination to inoculate the Koji, although only one of the two will produce an acceptable soy sauce. The preferred species are Saccharomyces rouxii and Debaryomyces hansenii. In any case. at least 10 organisms per cc. of either the commercially available or isolated organisms must be used to inoculate the Maromi, preferably at least 100 organisms per cc., and especially at least 1,000, e.g. 10,000 organisms per cc. of total liquid in preparing the Koji, as noted above.  
  While the present invention has been ilustrated in terms of producing soy sauce from Koji made from soybeans and wheat, as is apparent to those skilled in the art, Koji may be produced with a combination of soybeans and other grains or cereals. For example, instead of wheat, there may be used other grains or cereals such as rice, barley, sorghum, cotton seed, corn or maize, oats or legumes such as legume seeds. Generally the proportion of soybeans, on a weight basis, to other grains or cereal will be between to 75 percent soybeans and the remainder being other of the cereals or grains noted above. Preferably, however, the proportion of soybeans to other cereals or grains is approximately 50 percent by weight. Also, in the preferred process, one-half of the soybeans are roasted and onehalf of the soybeans are boiled. The roasted and boiled soybeans are combined with a cereal or grain in approximately equal proportion, e.g., with wheat (roasted). In addition, part of the soybeans may be replaced by other high protein content beans, such as peas, lima beans. black-eyed peas, kidney beans, etc. However, these other beans should not replace more than one-half of the soybeans.  
  Hence, the term Koji&#34; as used in the present specifi cation and claims embraces the above noted variation of beans, cereals and grains. The following examples will illustrate the preferred embodiments of the process, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the following illustrative examples but is applicable to the extent of the foregoing disclosure.  
 EXAMPLE 1 A conventional Koji was prepared by boiling in water at 212F for 15 minutes 8 /1 pounds of soybeans, roasting for 1 hour in a rotating oven at 250F 8 pounds of soybeans and roasting for 1 hour in a rotating oven at 250F l7 /2 pounds of wheat. The boiled soybeans,  
 roasted soybeans and wheat were mixed until a uniform mixture was obtained. The mixture was ground with Urschel mill until all particles had a size of less than 10 microns. To the resulting ground mixture was then added 0.1 gram of dry powdered Koji culture and al&#39; lowed to ferment 5 days at 82F.  
 EXAMPLE 2 The Koji of Example I was placed in 167 pounds of sterilized 18 w/v percent aqueous NaCl contained in a stainless steel mixing vessel fitted with a paddle stirrer and mixed until a slurry was produced. With mixing. 13  
 cc. of inoculant in 18 w/v percent saline solution was added to the slurry. The inoculant contained approximately l X l0 organisms of Saccharomyces rouxii. The mixing vessel was capped with a head plate having a nitrogen inlet and a nitrogen outlet. Nitrogen was flushed through the head space of approximately 2 cu. ft. at a rate of approximately 10 cc/min. The slurry was maintained at between and 84F by means of a water jacket surrounding the mixing vessel. The above conditions were maintained for a total of 5 days. with a 15 minute stirring every 4 hours. After the 5 day period. the nitrogen flush was stopped every 4 hours and replaced by an air flush for 15 minutes, with stirring during the flush and with stirring for 15 minutes after the air flush was completed and nitrogen was again flushed through the head space. After each aeration. the nitrogen flush was resumed and continuously maintained. The above temperature conditions, nitrogen and air flushing schedule was continued for a total of 21 days beyond the initial 5 day fermentation period (e.g., a total of 26 days processing time).  
  Thereafter, the liquid was separated from the solids by means of a conventional filter press. The liquid had the color and aroma of soy sauce. The taste was that of a good soy sauce with medium body. The soy sauce was aged for two weeks in a stainless steel closed vat and the flavor developed into a very full-bodied, good tasting soy sauce.  
 EXAMPLE 3 The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that the inoculant contained Debaryomyces hansenii. The resulting soy sauce had a slightly better flavor than that of Example 2.  
 EXAMPLE 4 The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that the inoculant contained approximately equal amounts of Saccharomyces rouxii and Debaryomyces hansenii. The resulting flavor was significantly superior to that of either Example 2 or Example 3.  
 EXAMPLE 5 The procedure of Examples 2, 3 and 4 were repeated except that the air flush used in those Examples after the first 5 day period was instead also used during the first 5 day period. In each case a better flavor was obtained.  
 EXAMPLE 6 *YM powder is YM agar (dehydrated as disclosed in Wickerham. Tech. Bull. No. 1029. L&#39;.S.D.A. l95l and contains yeast extract. heel extract. dextrose and agar. This is a standard commercially available material Five grams of YM powder were added to l()() cc of water. sterilized at 250F for l5 seconds and designated 5 di 1 the said inoculant having a number of organisms equiv- M di 1 d di 2 were CQ led r 1 lF d 2t) alent to at least l.000 organisms per cc of liquid to be cc. of each media was placed in separate 3 inch diameassociated with [he j in forming mummiter sterilized petri dishes (designated dish I and dish 2). The Composition of Chlim 1 wherein the ant Media 1 and 2 were streaked with 1 year old naturally H) is admixed with koji. produced Maromi and allowed to incubate at 71F. for The Composition of Chlim 1 wherein the fldmiXlure 4 days. is with maromi.  
  With bacteriological needles. the yeast cultures (vi- The mp ition of Claim 1 herein the said koji sually identified) which were either flaky. dull or shiny 0T maromi has 11 Particle iz hich Will pass through were removed from dishes l and 2 and streaked in sep- 11 3 Us Sieve r narate petri dishes containing the same. respective. The p i n of Claim 4 wherein the particles media as described above. These dishes were incubated wiii P1155 thmugh 11 6 Us Sieve Screen at 7lF for 4 days. This purifying procedure was re- 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composipeated 3 times. after which pure cultur s of flak dull tion contains an edible salt solution and the amount of and shiny ycast cultures were obtained. The cultures 30 sail in Said Solution is from 5- percent. were identified as Saccharomyces and Debaryomyces. The omposition of Claim 6 wherein the said salt Equal portions of the flaky. dull and shiny cultures iS flC were used in the procedure of Example 2, in the same 8. The composition Of claim 7 wherein the said solutotal amounts as in Example 2, instead of the Saccharotion ta from 5- percent of NaCl. myces rouxii. The produced soy sauce had an excellent 35 The Composition of Claim 8 wherein the Said lufl d f ll b d tion contains approximately 18 w/v percent of NaCl.  
  10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the koji or EXAMPLES 7 i i maromi contains a grain or cereal.  
  The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except 11. The composition Of claim 10 wherein the grain 01&#39; that the conditions and materials. as shown in Table l, Cereal i5 fl were used The results are noted in [uble 12- The composition Of claim wherein the said koji contains from 25-75 percent by weight of soybeans and from 75-25 percent by weight of wheat. EXAMPLE I2 13. The composition of claim 12 wherein approxi- The procedure of Example 2 was repeated except mately one-half ofthe soybeans have been boiled, onethat no aeration was performed during the process. The half of the soybeans have been roasted and the wheat resulting flavor was inferior to the flavor of Example 2. has been roasted. but was still the characteristic soy sauce flavor. 14. The composition of claim I wherein the maromi As can be seen from the foregoing disclosure, soy contains up to solids. sauce can be produced with very short total fermenta- 40 15. The composition of claim 1 wherein the yeast are tion times. e.g.. in less than 2 months and especially in both a Saccharomyces and a Debaryomyces. about 30 days. This. of course. results in a significant 16. The composition ofclaim 15 wherein the Sacchasaving in time and money over the conventional periromyces is S. rouxii and the Debaryomyces is D. hanods of 1 year to 18 months. senii.  
 TABLE I 12 of koji or maromi with which is additionally admixed an inoculant having as the sole essential organisms of the said inoculant at least one yeast selected from the group consisting essentially of Saccharomyces. Debaryomyces. Maromi isolated yeasts and mixtures thereof.  
 First Fermental Temp.  
 Second Fermentation Temp.  
 Example Koji lnoculant And Time F. and Time, Days Flavor 7 2 lbs. roasted lXlO Sacch. F, 7 days F, l4 days Good flavor medium so beans rouxii body 3 bs. boiled soybeans and 30 lbs. roasted wheat 3 lXlO Sacch. Mild flavor light rouxii bod 9 1X10 Sacch. 83F, 5 days 83F. 21 days Very distinct flavor rouxii and full body 10 20 lbs. boiled lXlO&#39;&#34; Sacch. 84F. 7 days 84F. 25 days Strong flavor soybeans rouxii full body 5 lbs. roasted soybeans l2 lbs. roasted wheat II What is claimed is: 1. An anaerobic to mildly aerobic fermentable composition for producing soy sauce comprising a mixture lO5F, 7 days slightly acid taste 4 full body 17. The composition of claim 1 wherein the said yeast are maromi isolated organisms.