The Ingredients: Shaoxing wine, or shàoxīng jiǔ (绍兴酒), is a type of Chinese rice wine that hails from Shaoxing, a city in China’s Zhejiang Province famous for rice wine production. It’s a key ingredient in many dishes and will create that authentic restaurant flavor you may have found difficult to replicate at home.  With early records mentioning it over 2000 years ago, Shaoxing Wine is one of the oldest forms of rice wine in China. The production process involves fermenting rice, water, and a small amount of wheat.

The Spirit:  Aged Shaoxing wine can be consumed as a beverage, usually warmed beforehand.  However, it is primarily used for cooking.  Clear rather than cloudy, it has a dark amber color, with a mildly sweet, fragrant aroma.