The invention discloses a rapid detecting method for detecting the total number of colonies in spices, such as soy sauce. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: firstly, enriched thallus are separated by using membrane separation technique, and substance affecting the growth and the luminescence system of the thallus is removed; secondly, a culture medium is used for repairing sublethal thallus, spore are changed to trophozoite cells, thus the thallus are in sync growth status; thirdly, thallus suspension liquid and ATP luminescence agent are reacted, and the total number of the colonies can be detected according to the light value. The invention discloses the culture medium used for detecting the total number of colonies in spices quickly. The detecting method is rapid, the total number of colonies can be detected accurately within 4 hours, and the method has the advantages of promptness and accuracy.