Best hoisin sauces in the UK

Hoisin is the “sweet-savoury shortcut” sauce that makes plain food taste like you actually planned dinner. A good hoisin should be thick, glossy, and deeply savoury, with a gentle sweetness and a warm, spiced finish (think garlic, five-spice vibes, and fermented bean depth). A bad one tastes like sugary brown syrup with no character.

Below are hoisin options that are commonly available in the UK, plus how to choose the right style for duck, stir-fries, marinades, and dipping.

What to look for in a great hoisin sauce

1) Thickness (cling matters)

Hoisin should coat food. If it pours like soy sauce, it won’t glaze properly.

2) Sweet + salty + fermented depth

The “real” hoisin feel comes from fermented bean/soy depth, not just sugar.

3) Spice warmth, not heat

It’s not meant to be hot like chilli sauce, more aromatic and slightly smoky/spiced.

4) Purpose

Some hoisin sauces are best as a table sauce (dipping), others are better for cooking and glazing.

Best hoisin sauces in the UK (top picks)

1) Lee Kum Kee Hoisin Sauce (Red Label) – best classic hoisin taste

This is the one most people mean when they say “hoisin.” It’s thick, sweet-savoury, and punchy enough to stand up to duck, pancakes, spring rolls, and stir-fry glazing.

Best for: Peking duck pancakes, BBQ-style glazing, noodle bowls, stir-fries
Why it works: strong “restaurant-style” hoisin flavour and good texture.

2) Flying Goose Hoisin Sauce – best easy everyday bottle

Flying Goose is a good choice when you want hoisin that’s simple to use and works in both cooking and dipping. It usually leans slightly sweeter, which can be perfect for quick meals.

Best for: dipping sauce, quick fried rice/stir-fry flavour boost, marinades
Why it works: user-friendly flavour and consistency.

3) Go-Tan Woksauce Hoisin – best for stir-fry convenience

This one is built around cooking. If you’re the type to throw veg + protein into a pan and want the sauce to do the heavy lifting, this style fits.

Best for: stir-fries, noodles, weeknight wok meals
Why it works: designed for cooking, not just dipping.

4) Kokki Djawa Hoisin Sauce – best for something a bit different

If you want hoisin that doesn’t taste exactly like the “standard” version, this can be a fun pick, often a little more rounded, sometimes slightly less aggressively sweet.

Best for: marinades, glazing roasted veg, mixing into sauces
Why it works: more unique profile that can feel less “one-note.”

5) Gressingham Plum & Hoisin Sauce – best for duck-style sweetness

This isn’t a pure hoisin; it’s a plum + hoisin blend. But if your goal is duck-style flavour (sweet, glossy, sticky), this kind of sauce is extremely convenient.

Best for: duck breasts, duck wraps, sticky glazes, dipping
Why it works: plum adds a fruity sweetness that feels made for duck.

How to choose the right hoisin for your meal

If you want hoisin for duck pancakes

Pick Lee Kum Kee (most classic) or a plum + hoisin blend for extra sweetness.

If you want a wok sauce that fixes a stir-fry fast

Go with Go-Tan Woksauce Hoisin or Flying Goose.

If you want a dipping sauce for spring rolls

Lee Kum Kee or Flying Goose usually tastes right without mixing.

Quick “make it better” hoisin mix (optional)

If your hoisin tastes too sweet or flat, this fixes it fast:

• 1 tbsp hoisin
• 1 tsp light soy sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar or lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil (optional)
• A tiny pinch of garlic powder or grated garlic (optional)

It turns hoisin into a more balanced sauce for noodles, stir-fries, and marinades.

FAQs

Is hoisin the same as plum sauce?

No. Plum sauce is fruitier and more tangy-sweet, while hoisin is thicker and more savoury with fermented depth and spice notes. Some products mix both for duck.

Can I use hoisin as a marinade?

Yes, especially for chicken, tofu, or pork. Because it contains sugar, it can brown quickly, so keep the heat moderate or add it later in cooking.

What’s the closest hoisin taste to Chinese takeaways?

Usually Lee Kum Kee is the closest “classic takeaway” hoisin profile.