<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

After pining away for a good miso soup I decided to contact Eden
Organics and ask just how their koji is grown and used, specifically
asking if the spores were grown on wheat are barley.  (I also asked
about the koji used in their mirin since I know that can be tricky.)

What I asked and their reply follows:

> I have what might be a strange question for your company.  I would
> like information on your koji starter, namely is wheat or barley used
> in the growing of the aspergillus for the koji.  As a Celiac I must
> avoid both grains and have been looking for a company whose miso and
> mirin does not include barley or wheat in the koji starter production.
>
> Thank you for what information you can give me.


Dear Angie,

Thank you for contacting Customer Service at Eden Foods.

Koji is made by sprinkling steamed brown rice with spores from
Aspergillus culture, and it is kept moist and warm to incubate.  The
spores germinate and the Aspergillus produces digestive enzymes using
the rice as a source of nutrients.  After two days, the fermented rice
and Aspergillus become koji. Koji is used in most Japanese fermented
food.  Koji enzymes convert protein, carbohydrates, and fats into
simple amino acids, sweet sugars, and fatty acids.

The main ingredient in Miso is soybeans which, when fermented, have long
been considered to be easier to digest and assimilate.  Eden(r) Organic
Misos are made from whole soybeans and grains that are cleaned, steamed,
and then inoculated with the special culture, koji.  Sea salt is added
and this mixture is put into large wooden kegs where time, temperature,
and fermentation create the unique, nutritional food called miso.
Eden(r) brand traditional Misos are aged at least 18 months, without
chemicals or preservatives to alter the process.

Mirin is similar to a cooking wine and imparts a sweet alcohol taste to
foods.  It is best used in foods such as stirfries, sauces or salads.
It is also made with this type of koji.

If you should have any further questions, please contact Customer
Service.

Sandy Baker
Customer Service
Eden Foods
800-248-0320
www.edenfoods.com