Geoff wrote on 14 Jan 2006 10:44:41 -0800:

??>> Another possibility that bears looking into is to visit a
??>> Chinese supermarket if you can. My favorite one has about
??>> 15 different varieties of miso with quite a range of salt
??>> content.

GM> I thought miso was Japanese, not Chinese. I've never seen
GM> miso soup on the menu at a Chinese restaurant, not heard it
GM> mentioned in the context of Chinese cuisine.

Your comment inspired me to go to what is considered the "bible"
of Miso by many: Shurtleff and Aoyagi, "The Book of Miso". They
mention Chinese miso referred to as chiang, pronounced "jiang".
It was known well over 2000 years ago in China and spread from
there to Japan. Apparently, the term "bean paste" is also used
there and Hoisin sauce "hoisin chiang") can be considered a
variety of that! There are many other flavored types in
addition.

All the best!


James Silverton.