Douchi

Douchi, often called fermented or salted black beans in English, is a Chinese seasoning made from soybeans that have been fermented and salted, a process that breaks the beans down and releases a large amount of free amino acids that give the finished product a strong, savory umami character. The whole or coarsely broken black beans are salty and pungent, sometimes with an added spicy note, and are used as a flavoring rather than eaten as a dish on their own. Douchi is a staple seasoning in Chinese regional cooking, most famously stir-fried with garlic and chili to flavor dishes, and it also appears in stews and soups across southern China.