Food Lens Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Food Lens · Recipe ingredients
Tianmianjiang
Sweet, deeply savory, and mildly fermented with a rich umami depth and a molasses-like darkness.
Lens analyzedTianmianjiang, or sweet flour paste, is a thick, dark Chinese condiment made from fermented wheat flour with added sweeteners. It is most famous as the sauce brushed onto Peking duck pancakes and as the rich, savory-sweet sauce base in zhajiangmian.
Where it comes from
Tianmianjiang, sweet fermented flour paste, is a northern Chinese condiment central to Beijing cooking, most famously brushed onto the pancakes that wrap Peking duck and stirred into zhajiangmian noodle sauce. North American cooks can find it in jars in Chinese grocery stores, sometimes labeled sweet bean sauce.
Buying it
Available in jars or tins at Chinese grocery stores; look for a smooth, dark paste with a shiny surface. The label may read 'sweet bean sauce,' 'sweet flour sauce,' or 'hoisin-style paste.' Texture should be thick and spreadable.
Storing it
Refrigerate after opening; keeps well for several months in an airtight container.
Keeps about 1 year in the pantry.
Out of tianmianjiang? Good swaps
General cooking guidance — always check the labels on the products you use. Listahan’s allergen checks run automatically when you plan a recipe in the app. Not medical advice.
Recipes that use tianmianjiang
Common questions about tianmianjiang
Is tianmianjiang vegan?
Tianmianjiang is generally plant-based and suitable for a vegan diet, but brands differ — confirm on the label.
What can I use instead of tianmianjiang?
Good swaps include Hoisin sauce, Yellow soybean paste + sugar. Each behaves a little differently — see the swaps above for notes, and always check labels for allergens.
How do I store tianmianjiang?
Refrigerate after opening; keeps well for several months in an airtight container. It keeps about 1 year in the pantry.
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Make tianmianjiang about your kitchen — with Listahan Pro
Everything above is free, forever. Pro adds the Household Lens — the same food, seen for your family:
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Checked for each member
Flags tianmianjiang per person against your household's allergies and school rules — not just a generic "contains" tag.
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Pantry-aware
Knows whether you already have it, what is running low, and the best swap from what is in your kitchen tonight.
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What it costs near you
A real price from the Presyo community index, so you can plan the budget — not guess.
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Your household memory
Who likes it, plus your own private notes — brand, where you keep it, who skips it.
Allergen safety is always free — Pro adds the automation, never the safety.
Cook with tianmianjiang — safely
Plan a recipe in Listahan and the household allergen check runs automatically — every plan, every swap, every lunchbox. Safety is never paywalled.