How to drink Shaoxing Huadiao wine

China has a long history of wine culture, and has produced many wines with local characteristics, such as Kweichow Moutai, Sichuan Wuliangye, etc. Compared with these liquors, Shaoxing Huadiao liquor is also world-famous. Huadiao wine is a type of rice wine, and the way you drink it is quite different from ordinary white wine. Only by drinking Huadiao wine correctly can you truly appreciate its essence. So, how do you drink Shaoxing Huadiao wine? Let’s take a look at the method below.

What is Huadiao wine?

Huadiao wine is one of the outstanding representatives of Chinese wine culture. Among them, the oldest and most famous one is the Huadiao wine from Shaoxing, Zhejiang. This Shaoxing Huadiao wine is made from the finest glutinous rice and high-quality malt, supplemented by the clear lake water from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and is brewed using ancient methods. It is a "wonderful" among rice wines. Therefore, this Huadiao wine is of course a type of rice wine.

Definition of rice wine: Various types of rice wine made from rice, millet, black rice, corn, wheat, etc., which are steamed, mixed with malt koji, rice koji or yeast, and then saccharified and fermented.

The longer the wine is stored, the more flavor it has and the better it tastes. How can Huadiao wine be no exception? Its value lies in its age. Its aroma is fragrant and its taste is sweet and mellow, which makes wine lovers love it very much. High-end liquid cake refers to Huadiao wine. We cannot let the nutrients be lost just because we don’t know how to drink it.

Tips for drinking Huadiao wine:

1. Drink directly without heating. You can add appropriate amount of plums or ginger. It can be mixed with various fruit juice drinks and is very delicious with a unique flavor.

2. Huadiao wine tastes best when heated to warm temperature. How high should Huadiao wine be heated to? If you can't finish it in one drink, how should you heat it up the next time?

Huadiao wine should be heated to about 60 degrees. If it is higher, the alcohol will evaporate. If it is lower, it will not taste good enough. Soak the can or bottle in hot water and pour a little less to avoid it getting cold before you finish a large glass. Don't keep the opened Huadiao wine for too long, otherwise it will oxidize and turn into vinegar. Many people like to add preserved plums to aged wine instead of sweetening it.

3. In winter, add ginger and wolfberry, boil in a casserole for 10 minutes and drink while hot.

The way to drink Huadiao wine is to add shredded ginger and wolfberry to the wine in winter and heat it to about 45 degrees before drinking.

4. How to drink it in summer: Put a few plums (do not put ginger and wolfberry as they should be eaten less in summer) in Huadiao wine aged for no less than 10 years, heat it in an electric kettle (preferably a small casserole) and cook for about 10 minutes. When it cools to room temperature, put it in the refrigerator and chill it, preferably at 10-15℃. You can also drink it with ice cubes.

5. Some people also like to heat Huadiao to around 90°, then beat in a local egg and stir, then add some sugar. This way of drinking has a very high nutritional value.