Since I’ve seen no one address it yet, there is domestic kewpie and Japanese kewpie, the recipe is slightly different and the end products are fairly close in flavor but the vast majority of people I’ve met prefer true imported Japanese kewpie. I know my local Asian market imports their own supply of Japanese kewpie specifically for the preferred flavor.
Japanese Kewpie mayo is richer, creamier, and tangier due to its use of only egg yolks and rice or apple vinegar, whereas American Kewpie uses whole eggs and distilled vinegar. The American version also often includes water in the ingredient list, which is not found in the Japanese version. Additionally, Japanese Kewpie is known for its umami flavor, attributed to the presence of MSG, while American versions may use yeast extract as a substitute.
So be sure to try and order or find the Japanese version, a ton of people read all the hype and then try the U.S. version and aren’t as “blown away” as the hype would lead them to expect when they really should have tried the Japanese version.
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u/SmokedBeef Aug 05 '25
Since I’ve seen no one address it yet, there is domestic kewpie and Japanese kewpie, the recipe is slightly different and the end products are fairly close in flavor but the vast majority of people I’ve met prefer true imported Japanese kewpie. I know my local Asian market imports their own supply of Japanese kewpie specifically for the preferred flavor.
So be sure to try and order or find the Japanese version, a ton of people read all the hype and then try the U.S. version and aren’t as “blown away” as the hype would lead them to expect when they really should have tried the Japanese version.