Puning Soybean Paste

Puning Soybean Paste

　　Hongyang Town has over 150 years of history in producing soybean paste. Made from soybeans, wheat flour, and salt, the product undergoes fermentation, sun-drying, and steam sterilization processes. The golden-yellow paste is rich in protein, amino acids, and reducing sugars, with a sweet and savory taste, making it an excellent seasoning. Today, the Hongyang Soy Sauce Factory produces 150 tons of soybean paste annually, including 1987's "Peifeng Pagoda Brand" soybean paste, which won an excellence award in a joint quality competition for the condiment industry organized by the Guangdong Provincial Industrial Association and Food Association. The product is exported to countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (Puning)

　　Soybean paste is a food or seasoning made from high-quality soybeans that are soaked, steamed (or boiled), and naturally fermented. It has a long history, especially in the Chaoshan region, where Puning Soybean Paste is the most renowned. It has been produced for over 150 years. The best varieties come from the three major brands: Yuanxing, Caiyuan, and Xiangyu.

　　Puning Soybean Paste is meticulously crafted from fresh soybeans, wheat flour, salt, and other ingredients through fermentation and sun-drying processes. The golden-yellow paste contains protein, amino acids, and reducing sugars. With a fragrant, mellow taste, rich nutrition, and hygienic quality, it is an excellent seasoning for home cooking.

　　After the liberation, with improvements in people’s living standards and the development of foreign trade, the production of Puning Soybean Paste expanded significantly, with large quantities exported to Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries. At its peak, annual exports reached 180,000 kilograms. To enhance product quality, manufacturers introduced steam sterilization to meet national hygiene standards and ensure shelf life. Packaging was also continuously improved, including 250g canned versions, 500g glass bottles, and 750g glass jars for greater convenience. In addition to Hongyang, both the county soy sauce factory and the county canning factory now produce it. The domestic market uses the "Peifeng Pagoda Brand" trademark, while the export market uses the "Temple of Heaven Brand" trademark, making the product available both domestically and internationally. In recent years, with the improvement in paste quality, sales have more than doubled. In 1986, the Peifeng Pagoda Brand soybean paste won second prize for excellence in the Shantou City Commercial Industrial Products Exhibition and Sales Fair. In 1987, it received an excellence award in a joint quality competition for the condiment industry organized by the Guangdong Provincial Industrial Association and Food Association. The product is sold in countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.