Is tamari gluten-free?
Tamari is usually gluten-free — it's traditionally brewed from soybeans without wheat, unlike regular soy sauce. But "usually" isn't "always": some modern tamari includes small amounts of wheat. For strict celiac diets, only buy tamari bottles that explicitly say gluten-free or carry a GFCO seal.
When it's safe
- The label says "gluten-free" (San-J Tamari, Kikkoman Gluten-Free Tamari, Ohsawa Nama Shoyu Organic Tamari)
- The ingredients list only water, soybeans, salt, and alcohol (no wheat)
When to avoid it
- The bottle says "tamari" but lists wheat in the ingredients (some Japanese-style tamari does)
- The label has no gluten-free claim and ingredients are only in Japanese
Not sure about a specific product?
GF Scanner is an iOS app that scans barcodes and ingredient labels to detect gluten in seconds. It's free to download, includes 1 free barcode scan and forever-free offline ingredient-label text scanning, and offers a free trial for Pro barcode scanning and AI analysis. It works on packaged foods worldwide and supports 33 languages.
Download FreeFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between tamari and soy sauce?
Traditional tamari is brewed with 100% soybeans and no wheat, while soy sauce typically uses equal parts soybeans and wheat. Tamari is richer and less salty. Gluten-free labeled tamari is the celiac-safe choice.
Is San-J tamari gluten-free?
Yes. San-J Tamari (gold-label) is certified gluten-free, tested under 10 ppm, and is one of the most widely trusted celiac-safe soy sauces.