Coconut aminos are gluten-free — coconut tree sap and salt, no grain and no soy.
Yes. Coconut aminos is a soy-sauce-style condiment made from the fermented sap of the coconut tree blossom and sea salt — no soy and no grain. Coconut sap and salt are not gluten-containing grains, so coconut aminos is naturally gluten-free. Coconut Secret pioneered the category (organic coconut sap, sun-dried sea salt, soy-free and gluten-free), with Bragg and Big Tree Farms as widely available alternatives. It’s specifically the soy-free, gluten-free swap for soy sauce and tamari — the only thing to glance at is a flavored or “teriyaki” blend.
Coconut aminos is the cleanest soy-sauce alternative there is for celiac disease — and arguably one of the safest condiments in the whole pantry. It has no wheat (unlike regular soy sauce), no soy (unlike tamari), and no grain of any kind. It exists specifically to give people with dietary restrictions a savory, umami-rich substitute, so the entire category is built around being free of the things celiac and soy-free eaters avoid.
The only place a question even arises is with flavored “teriyaki-style” blends, and even those are almost always gluten-free. The plain product needs no asterisk at all.
Why Coconut Aminos Are Gluten-Free
Coconut aminos is made by fermenting the sap that flows from a cut coconut tree blossom, then blending it with sea salt. That’s essentially the whole recipe — sap and salt, sometimes a splash of water or vinegar. Per FDA labeling rules, the gluten-containing grains are wheat, barley, and rye — coconut sap and salt are none of those, so coconut aminos is naturally gluten-free.
The category was created by Coconut Secret, which makes its coconut aminos from organic coconut tree sap and sun-dried sea salt and markets it explicitly as soy-free and gluten-free. Bragg and Big Tree Farms make near-identical single-purpose products, and most store brands (Thrive Market, 365) follow the same simple formula. Because the product exists to serve restricted diets, the plain version is reliably free of wheat, barley, rye, and soy.
Two clarifications worth making. First, “aminos” sounds processed but simply refers to the amino acids naturally present in the fermented sap — it is not an added chemical. Second, do not confuse coconut aminos with soy-based “liquid aminos” (e.g., a soy liquid-aminos seasoning): that’s a different, soy-derived product, and while many are gluten-free, it should be checked on its own label.
Brand-by-Brand: Which Coconut Aminos Are Gluten-Free?
The whole category is gluten-free and soy-free by design. The only thing to glance at is a flavored or “teriyaki” blend.
| Brand | Ingredients | Gluten-Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut Secret (original) | Organic coconut sap, sun-dried sea salt | ✓ Yes — soy-free & gluten-free |
| Bragg Coconut Aminos | Coconut sap, sea salt | ✓ Yes — gluten-free & soy-free |
| Big Tree Farms Coconut Aminos | Organic coconut blossom nectar, sea salt | ✓ Yes — gluten-free & soy-free |
| Thrive Market / 365 / store-brand | Coconut sap, sea salt | ✓ Yes (verify flavored variants) |
| Teriyaki / garlic “coconut aminos sauce” blends | Coconut sap + added flavorings | ✓ Almost always GF — glance at the label |
| Soy-based “liquid aminos” (different product) | Soybeans | ~ Different product — check that label separately |
Cross-Contamination Risk
Manufacturing
Low
- Fermented coconut sap and sea salt — not a gluten grain.
- No wheat, barley, or rye; no soy either.
- Coconut Secret/Bragg/Big Tree Farms are soy-free & GF.
Restaurant
Low
- Rarely the restaurant default (soy sauce is).
- Where used, it carries no wheat, barley, or rye.
- Any dish gluten would come from other sauces.
Home
Low
- Plain coconut aminos has no wheat, barley, or rye.
- Only check a flavored/teriyaki blend’s added ingredients.
- Don’t confuse it with soy-based “liquid aminos.”
Coconut Aminos — GF Status
- Coconut Secret (original) — gluten-free & soy-free
- Bragg Coconut Aminos — gluten-free & soy-free
- Big Tree Farms Coconut Aminos — gluten-free & soy-free
- Store-brand plain coconut aminos (Thrive Market, 365) — gluten-free
- Teriyaki / flavored coconut-aminos blend — almost always GF; glance at the label
- Soy-based “liquid aminos” — different product; check separately
What to Look For — Or Avoid
- Ingredients: coconut tree sap, sea salt (maybe water/vinegar)
- “Gluten-free” and “soy-free” claims on the plain product
- A pioneer/established brand (Coconut Secret, Bragg, Big Tree Farms)
- Flavored/teriyaki blends without a quick label check
- Assuming “aminos” means a processed gluten additive (it doesn’t)
- Confusing it with soy-based “liquid aminos”
Frequently Asked Questions
Coconut aminos is the go-to for people avoiding both gluten and soy, so the questions are mostly about which brands qualify and how it differs from tamari and liquid aminos. Here are clear answers.
Are coconut aminos gluten-free?
Yes. Coconut aminos is made from fermented coconut tree sap and sea salt, neither of which is a gluten-containing grain. It contains no wheat, barley, or rye and is naturally gluten-free; it is also soy-free.
Is Coconut Secret coconut aminos gluten-free?
Yes. Coconut Secret — the brand that created the category — makes its coconut aminos from organic coconut tree sap and sun-dried sea salt and markets it as soy-free and gluten-free. Bragg and Big Tree Farms make equivalent gluten-free, soy-free versions.
What are coconut aminos made from?
The fermented sap of the coconut tree blossom blended with sea salt, sometimes with a little water or vinegar. There is no soy and no grain — “aminos” refers to the amino acids naturally in the sap, not an additive.
Are coconut aminos a good soy sauce substitute for celiac?
Yes. Coconut aminos is a roughly 1:1 swap for soy sauce, with no wheat (unlike soy sauce) and no soy (unlike tamari). It is the cleanest soy-sauce alternative for celiac disease, especially if you also avoid soy.
Are coconut aminos the same as liquid aminos?
No. Coconut aminos is coconut-sap-based and grain-free. Soy-based “liquid aminos” is made from soybeans — a different product. Many liquid aminos are gluten-free, but check that label separately; coconut aminos is the soy-free option.
Is flavored or teriyaki coconut aminos gluten-free?
Almost always yes. The coconut base is gluten-free, and flavored or teriyaki-style blends add other ingredients that are typically gluten-free too. It is the one place to glance at the ingredient list; the plain product needs no caveat.
Can people with celiac disease use coconut aminos?
Yes. Plain coconut aminos is naturally gluten-free and celiac-safe, and from Coconut Secret, Bragg, or Big Tree Farms it is also soy-free. It is one of the safest condiments available and a reliable soy-sauce replacement.