Chinese Black Vinegar

[KennethT]

I can't find my usual brand of Zhenjiang vinegar lately but I did get this... I'm curious to try it.

 

 

 

[liuzhou]

1 hour ago, KennethT said:

I can't find my usual brand of Zhenjiang vinegar lately but I did get this... I'm curious to try it.

 

 

 

I don't know that specific brand, but Shanxi Aged Vinegar is possibly the most easily available black vinegar here. Being cheaper than Zhenjiang may help.

I'm a bit surprised by some of the ingredients, though. Peas? Also, surprised it doesn't seem to give an age. That would be more normal.

[shain]

I have no idea how it compares to other brands, but I have a bottle of Gold Plum brand Black vinegar and it's good enough to sip.

[liuzhou]

9 hours ago, shain said:

I have no idea how it compares to other brands, but I have a bottle of Gold Plum brand Black vinegar and it's good enough to sip.

 

Is it this the one you have?

 

Edited April 7, 2022 by liuzhou (log)

[shain]

6 hours ago, liuzhou said:

Is it this the one you have?

Yes, have you tried it?

[liuzhou]

46 minutes ago, shain said:

Yes, have you tried it?

 

Not that particular brand, but I know of it. It is a well-respected Zhenjiang vinegar (and Zhenjiang is the premium black vinegar).  I am wondering though if it has an age indication of the label.

This is normally 3 years at minimum. The Zhenjiang I buy is 6 years aged, but I've also seen 5 years and once, when I was in Zhenjiang, I bought an awesome 9 year aged version.

The age is indicated either in Arabic numerals or Chinese  (both are used here).

3 years = 三年
5 years = 五年
6 years = 六年
9 years = 九年

If there is no age indication, then it's almost certainly 3 years, the minimum.

Also the ingredients should be only water, glutinous rice, wheat bran, sugar, salt. No caramel, no peas!

[shain]

@liuzhou Thanks. Ingredients are good, no additives. No age mark.

[liuzhou]

This is the premium brand of Zhenjiang vinegar that I regularly buy. 6 year aged. 恒顺 (héng shùn) is by far the largest producer in Zhenjiang.

 

 

The last line of text - 手工糯米坛酿 (shǒu gōng nuò mǐ tán niàn) indicates that it is hand made from glutinous rice.

 

It does cost about 3 to 4 times the price of the Shanxi vinegar.

Edited April 8, 2022 by liuzhou (log)