Hoisin sauce is commonly used for barbequing or in the common dish "Peking Duck." Hoisin sauce is soy-based and regularly used in Chinese dishes, as well as stir-fry recipes. The ingredients in a typical bottle of hoisin sauce are soybean paste, garlic, vinegar, and various spices such as chili peppers. The flavor this mixture yields is described as sweet, salty, and spicy.

It is common for people to either love the taste of hoisin sauce or hate it. Hoisin sauce has a very distinct taste. When used in large quantities, it may be overwhelming for someone who has never tasted it before. For first time users, water can be added to hoisin sauce to make the flavor less strong.

One version of a hoisin sauce recipe includes a combination of any type of soy sauce, peanut sauce, honey, molasses, white vinegar, sesame oil, and hot pepper sauce. There are many variations in recipes for hoisin sauce, but all contain the same basic ingredients. Hoisin sauce can be made into a creamy version, or it can be made to be thick. The consistency depends on the particular recipe used. The color of hoisin sauce is dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tint.

It is possible to make hoisin sauce from scratch by following any number of available recipes. It is also possible to purchase a jar in any Chinese or regular grocery store. The best tasting pre-made jars of hoisin sauce are typically made and packaged in China or Hong Kong.

An unopened jar of hoisin sauce can be kept in a food storage cabinet for quite a while. Every jar should, however, contain a "best if used by" date stamp. An opened jar can remain good for an extended period of time if it is sealed and stored in a properly cooled refrigerator.