What Is Chinese Cooking Wine Called?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


Shaoxing Wine

– also known as Chinese Cooking Wine or Shaosing Wine – is an essential in Chinese cooking, the secret ingredient that makes recipes truly taste like what you get at Chinese restaurants. Chinese restaurants use it by the gallon in everything from stir fry sauces to soup broths, marinades and wontons!

Is Chinese cooking wine the same as rice vinegar?

First off,

rice vinegar and rice wine vinegar refer to the same thing

. It’s confusing, but it’s true. Rice wine vinegar is not wine; nor is it rice wine. … Rice vinegars can be used in myriad ways, often depending on their color; Chinese cuisine features black, red, and white vinegars, whose flavors vary.

What is the name of Chinese cooking wine?


Shaoxing wine (Shaohing, Shaoshing)

is one of the most famous varieties of huangjiu, or traditional Chinese wines, fermented from rice. Every Chinese restaurant uses Shaoxing wine in almost EVERY savory dish. It is widely used as both a beverage and a cooking wine in Chinese cuisine.

Is mirin and Chinese cooking wine the same?

Shaoxing wine is the best cooking wine in China. It is a pure yellow liquid. Mirin, a kind of Japanese cooking wine,

has the similar appearance and same function with Shaoxing

wine to remove the fishy smell of the food, and someone use it as cooking wine substitute.

What is a good substitute for Chinese rice wine?

Rice wine is ideal for both cooking and drinking. The most popular varieties include huangjiu, mirin, and sake. If you’ve run out or are looking for an alternative, try swapping for equal amounts of

dry sherry, white wine, dry vermouth, or white grape juice

.

Is wine made in China?


Wine has been produced in China since the Han dynasty

(206 BC–220 AD). Thanks to its immense territory and favorable climates, China is the largest grape producer worldwide, contributing to nearly half of the world’s grape production. When it comes to viticulture, it also has the third-largest vineyard area worldwide.

Can I use balsamic vinegar instead of rice wine?

Like rice vinegar, balsamic boasts a more mellow flavor profile and plenty of sweetness. But although balsamic stacks up in terms of acidity, it has a much deeper and richer flavor so it won’t take a backseat like rice vinegar does.

Do Chinese restaurants use Shaoxing wine?


Every Chinese restaurant uses Shaoxing Wine in almost every savoury dish

. You’d be hard pressed to find a single dish on a Chinese restaurant menu that does not use Chinese cooking wine! … It’s also used in noodle recipes such as Chow Mein, and soup broths, like Wonton Soup and Chinese Corn Soup.

What is best Chinese cooking wine?

  • Pagoda Shaoxing Huadiao Cooking Wine (No Salt) …
  • Gold Plum Shaoxing Nuerhong Cooking Wine. …
  • Shaoxing Cooking Wines. …
  • Chinese Cooking Huangjius. …
  • Fujian Qinghong 3-Year Aged Rice Wine. …
  • Chinese White Cooking Wines Without Salt. …
  • Chinese Rose Cooking Wine (玫瑰露酒) …
  • Taiwan Cooking Michius.

What does Chinese cooking wine look like?

Clear rather than cloudy, it has

a dark amber color

, with a mildly sweet, fragrant aroma. Aged Shaoxing wine can be consumed as a beverage, usually warmed beforehand. … Shaoxing wine is like the difference between using salt or light soy sauce. One is more purely salty, while the other adds a richer flavor.

Is mirin and rice cooking wine the same thing?

A. Although it sometimes gets confused with rice wine vinegar, mirin actually

is a sweet rice wine used in Japanese cooking

. It doesn’t just flavor food. The sweetness also gives luster to sauces and glazes and can help them cling to food.

Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of Shaoxing wine?

The bottom line: If you love Asian cuisine, it’s worth keeping rice wine vinegar in your pantry. In a pinch, though, you can totally substitute in another light, mild vinegar, like apple cider vinegar or

champagne vinegar

.

What can I use if I don’t have mirin?

You can always buy mirin online, but if you’re really in a crunch, you can sub in a

dry sherry

or a sweet marsala wine. Dry white wine or rice vinegar will also do, though you’ll need to counteract the sourness with about a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar for every tablespoon you use.

Can I use Shaoxing instead of rice wine?

This type of rice wine is reddish-brown, and originated from Shaoxing in China. Cooking sherry or cream sherry should not be used in place of Chinese rice wine. The ideal Shaoxing wine substitute is

pale dry sherry

, which can also be used in place of other amber-colored rice wines.

Can I use white vinegar instead of rice wine?

Try substituting

white wine vinegar

for rice vinegar in a 1:1 ratio. … Summary White wine vinegar has an acidic taste that is slightly less sweet than rice vinegar. Use an equal amount of white wine vinegar in place of rice vinegar, adding 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) of sugar per tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar.

What does Shaoxing wine taste like?

It has a mixed aroma and taste. For those who are unfamiliar with it, Shaoxing rice wine doesn’t smell much like alcohol. Some think it has a very particular taste:

vinegary, spicy and caramel-like

. Playing an important role in Chinese cuisine, Shaoxing rice wine is commonly used for everyday cooking.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.