Miso soup, cherished for its rich umami flavor and soothing properties, has steadily gained popularity worldwide. Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or someone looking to indulge in comfort foods, choosing the right brand can elevate your miso soup experience. With numerous options available, ranging from traditional Japanese brands to innovative new entrants, navigating this sea of choices can be overwhelming. Below, we've curated a list of the top brands that consistently deliver quality and taste in every bowl.
Illustration of miso soup
Best brands of miso soup in 2025
Hikari Miso
Hikari Miso is a renowned brand and one of the top producers of miso, holding a significant market share of 67.81% along with other leading brands in 2022. Known for its high-quality, organic, and non-GMO miso products, Hikari Miso has been crafting miso for nearly a century, adhering to a 1,300-year-old Japanese culinary tradition. Their miso is made from the freshest soybeans, rice, and koji, ensuring a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The brand is particularly famous for its Shinshu-style miso, such as the Organic Miso White, which offers a light flavor with subtle sweetness and umami. Hikari Miso products are certified organic and free from artificial flavors and preservatives.
Marukome
Marukome, a leading Japanese brand, has successfully revitalized the traditional miso soup market with innovative marketing strategies, such as a rock music-themed campaign that significantly increased sales, reaching approximately 22.8 million yen ($190,000) and exceeding the original goal by more than six times. The company's popular product, Marukome Ryotei No Aji, offers premium restaurant-quality taste with vegetarian options, containing ingredients like soybeans, rice, and seaweed. Marukome's efforts have made the brand highly appealing to young consumers, with over 460 media outlets covering the campaign and 75,886 social media posts. The global miso market, in which Marukome is a key player, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2022 to 2032, reaching USD 107.4 billion by 2032. Marukome's products are widely available in convenience stores and online platforms like Rakuten.
Miko Brand
Miko Brand, particularly through its Shinshuichi Freeze-Dried Instant Miso Soup, stands out as a top producer in the miso soup market, offering a product that achieves a high customer satisfaction rating of 4.46 out of 5 based on over 3,500 reviews. This instant miso soup is made with non-GMO soybeans and contains a blend of ingredients like dried fermented soybean paste, green onion, tofu, and bonito extract, ensuring a rich and authentic flavor. The product is convenient, ready in just 5 seconds with boiled water, and is part of a growing market in Japan, valued at over 14 billion Japanese yen in 2021. Miko Brand's product is also versatile, suitable as both a meal and a snack, and is appreciated for its flavor, with 21.92% of customers highlighting this aspect positively. The brand's reputation and detailed product descriptions play a significant role in customer purchasing decisions.
Clearspring
Clearspring is renowned as one of the best producers of miso soup, offering high-quality, organic, and non-GMO products. Their miso paste, made from whole soybeans, brown rice, and sea salt, undergoes a traditional fermentation process that can last from 6 to 18 months, depending on the region and climate. Clearspring's founder, Christopher Dawson, brings expertise gained from 18 years in Japan to ensure the finest traditionally made Japanese miso. Their products, such as the Organic Japanese Brown Rice Miso Paste, contain 47% whole soybeans and 33% cultured brown rice, providing a rich and complex flavor profile. With a strong commitment to organic certification and non-GM ingredients, Clearspring's miso products are highly regarded for their nutritional value and taste.
Tsubi Soup
Tsubi Soup is a renowned brand for its high-quality, 100% plant-based miso soup, made with the finest non-GMO soybeans fermented at a century-old miso maker in Kyoto, Japan. Each soup cube, weighing only 15 grams, retains up to 98% of the nutritional value through a freeze-drying process, ensuring a shelf life of up to 18 months without artificial preservatives. The soups are gluten-free, MSG-free, and low in sodium, with an average of 440 milligrams per serving. Tsubi Soup is committed to transparency, with all ingredients fully traceable under the internationally recognized ISO 22000:2005 license. The brand offers three flavorful blends, each rich in probiotics, fiber, and essential nutrients. For more details, you can visit their frequently asked questions page.
Eden Foods
Eden Foods is renowned as one of the best producers of miso soup, particularly with its Organic Shiro Miso and Genmai Miso, which are made from high-quality, non-GMO organic ingredients and traditionally aged without any chemicals or additives. Eden Shiro Miso, also known as 'sweet white' or 'Kyoto-style' miso, contains five times more protective isoflavones than other soy foods and has half the salt of other misos. The company has been perfecting its miso recipes for over 200 years in a remote, mountainous location. Eden Genmai Miso, made with whole brown rice, is a recent innovation that retains the health-promoting vitamins and nutrients of the bran layer. Both types of miso are rich in digestive enzymes and microorganisms that aid digestion and support healthy intestinal flora.
Hondashi
Hondashi, a product by Ajinomoto, is a highly regarded instant dashi powder that simplifies the process of making traditional Japanese miso soup. It requires just one teaspoon to make up to six cups of bonito-flavored soup stock, adding a rich umami flavor. This convenient powder has been a staple for many Japanese home cooks, especially since it eliminates the need for lengthy dashi preparation. In 2021, the market size of freeze-dried miso soup in Japan, where Hondashi is widely used, was valued at over 14 billion Japanese yen, indicating its significant impact on the market. For more information on Hondashi, visit the Ajinomoto Hondashi Bonito Soup Stock page.
Kikkoman
Kikkoman, a renowned brand in the culinary world, is highly regarded for its high-quality ingredients and products, including those used in miso soup. As a leading producer of soy sauce, Kikkoman's offerings are integral to many miso soup recipes, enhancing the flavor and authenticity of the dish. The company has seen significant growth, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% in overseas soy sauce sales from FY1974 to FY2024. In the U.S., Kikkoman holds a substantial market share, with around 40-50% of the home-use soy sauce market from FY2015 to FY2024. This consistent market presence and quality make Kikkoman a trusted choice for miso soup enthusiasts.
Sushi Chef
Sushi Chef is renowned as one of the best producers of traditional Japanese-style miso soup options that are rich in flavor and nutritional value. Their Red Miso Soup Mix, for instance, combines red miso paste with ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, tofu, seaweed, and chives, reflecting the authentic Northeast Japanese cuisine where miso soup is a staple. This mix is available in 0.53-ounce packets, making it convenient for preparation. The ingredients are carefully selected to enhance both flavor and presentation, ensuring a wholesome and delicious meal. With its origins in traditional Japanese cooking, Sushi Chef's miso soup is a popular choice for those seeking an authentic culinary experience.
Aoi Miso Company
Aoi Miso Company is a leading producer of miso soup, renowned for its high-quality ingredients and traditional Japanese manufacturing processes. The company utilizes soybeans, koji (Aspergillus oryzae), and salt, with a fermentation period of several weeks to achieve the perfect flavor profile. With the global miso market expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% from 2022 to 2032, Aoi Miso Company is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend, especially as 70% of consumers seek quick and healthy meals like instant miso soup. The company's commitment to sustainability and environmental measures aligns with consumer preferences, further enhancing its market standing. Aoi Miso Company's products are available in various packaging options, including single-serving sachets and cups, making it a convenient choice for consumers. For more insights, check out the global miso market report.
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