Hoisin sauce is a thick, dark, fragrant Chinese condiment that is sweet, salty, and slightly spicy. It originates from China and is especially prominent in Cantonese cuisine. The sauce is made primarily from fermented soybeans, along with ingredients such as sugar, garlic, vinegar, chili peppers, sesame oil, Chinese five-spice powder, and starches like flour or cornstarch. Despite its name suggesting a seafood connection, hoisin sauce typically contains no seafood today

. Hoisin sauce is versatile and used as a glaze for meats (like Peking duck or ribs), a dipping sauce, a marinade, or an addition to stir-fries. It imparts a rich umami flavor with a balance of sweetness and savoriness, making it a popular ingredient in many Chinese and Vietnamese dishes. The sauce's texture is thick and molasses-like, and it is sometimes compared to a sweet and savory ketchup in Chinese cooking

. Homemade hoisin sauce recipes often include garlic, ginger, green onions, soy sauce or tamari, maple syrup or molasses for sweetness, peanut butter or tahini for complexity, gochujang or miso for fermented depth, rice wine vinegar for brightness, and Chinese five-spice for warmth. It can be quickly prepared at home and used for glazing, marinating, or stir-frying various proteins and vegetables

. In summary, hoisin sauce is a sweet, salty, and aromatic Chinese sauce made from fermented soybeans and spices, widely used as a condiment, marinade, and cooking ingredient in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine