What is raw miso?

[dalimeindacoconut]

There is a japanese grocery store that I live quite close to. I always bought miso paste during SAD. Everyone keeps talking about miso. Is miso paste raw? and/or where do you get it? Thankx.

[ski bumette]

I'm pretty sure miso is raw. Maybe not all kinds but I know that the one I purchased once at my Co-Op store was raw or at least it said raw on the container. And I believe this store because they only carry organic foods. I purchase some sushi today at a new restaurant that is all raw and in the sushi is miso......this lady is 100% raw so I'm sure that her miso is raw. I can't wait to eat my sushi. First time I've had raw sushi.

[juliebove]

It's not raw. It's cooked, but fermented.

[ski bumette]

It's not raw. It's cooked, but fermented.
There ya go what do I know.....lol That's why I'm here.... gotta learn all this stuff. I'll have to double check at my co-op......I probably read label of one bin and took miso from another. I figured if it's in my sushi it would be raw. Doesn't matter, it was fabulous anyway.

[Judy]

You have different kinds of miso, made from different grains or beans (brown rice, barley or soy for example). They steam it and let it ferment/ripe for a couple of months to a couple of years in special wooden barrels. You have different versions, like paste or dried versions, pasteurized or unpasteurized, sweet or salty, quick commercial or high quality artisan... It might not be raw, but it's definitely living (full of enzymes and friendly bacteria), if you choose the unpasteurized paste that is. It usually says on the package.
For more info: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDE/is_1_25/ai_n16029683

[Nurse in the Raw]

It's all about the enzymes. I love Miso.

[Rawzula]

My local supermarket sells Miso, and I LOVE IT:D.

I don't think the paste I use is pasteurized (although it doesn't say on the package...)

[ski bumette]

You have different kinds of miso, made from different grains or beans (brown rice, barley or soy for example). They steam it and let it ferment/ripe for a couple of months to a couple of years in special wooden barrels. You have different versions, like paste or dried versions, pasteurized or unpasteurized, sweet or salty, quick commercial or high quality artisan... It might not be raw, but it's definitely living (full of enzymes and friendly bacteria), if you choose the unpasteurized paste that is. It usually says on the package.
For more info: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDE/is_1_25/ai_n16029683
Maybe the one I bought was unpasteurized and since I buy the honey that's unpasteurized I figured it was raw. Honey is one of those things that's so so, guess miso's on the same ground.

[Bananapie]

Yah I second Judy's comment. I definitely consider unpasteurized miso a living food.

Iana