Learn what Shaoxing rice wine is, how it’s used in Chinese cooking, how to choose the right bottle, and avoid common buying mistakes.
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Pin ItWhat Is Shaoxing Rice Wine?
Shaoxing (Shaohsing) rice wine (绍兴酒), often simply called Shaoxing wine, is one of the most commonly used cooking wines in Chinese cuisine. Made from fermented glutinous rice and named after the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, it has been used in Chinese kitchens for centuries.
It belongs to the broader category of Chinese rice wines (米酒, mijiu) and is one of the best-known types of Chinese yellow wine (黄酒, huangjiu). Its amber color and complex flavor set it apart from many lighter-colored, milder rice wines.
A splash of Shaoxing wine can add subtle aroma and depth to a dish. While it’s a staple in many savory recipes, its role is mostly supportive rather than dominant. In China, it’s also enjoyed as a warm alcolholic drink, often simmered with dried plum, tangerine peel and rock sugar.
Wei’s Pro Tip
Key Things To Know
- Typically contains around 14% alcohol.
- Usually contains wheat, so it’s not gluten-free.
- Commonly used in savory Chinese dishes, but rarely in uncooked dishes.
- I strongly recommend choosing a low-sodium product whenever possible (learn why in the section below).
What Does it Do In Cooking?
In most recipes, Shaoxing wine contributes a subtle aroma rather than a strong flavor. Like many Chinese home cooks, I mainly use it as part of a flavor-building process, alongside ingredients such as soy sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, scallions, and spices.
It’s commonly used in stir-fries, braises, stews and meat-based fillings for dumplingsand wontons. It’s particularly popular in dishes starring meat, poultry, or fish, as it’s traditionally believed to help reduce unwanted meaty or fishy odors.
You can add Shaoxing wine to marinades before cooking or mix it with other seasonings to make a sauce. In these situations, a teaspoon or two, or occasionally a tablespoon, is usually enough.
There are also a few classic dishes that use Shaoxing wine much more generously. Examples include appetizers such as Drunken Chicken and braised dishes like Red-Cooked Pork Belly and Three Cup Chicken. In these recipes, the flavor of the wine becomes much more noticeable.
My Buying Tip: Check the Salt Content
When buying Shaoxing rice wine, I pay much more attention to the salt content than the brand. Traditionally, it contains very little salt, and that’s the type I recommend.
The bottle I usually use contains just 0.08g salt per 100ml (see image above), but I’ve seen others containing 0.51g per 100ml or even more. That’s a significant difference.
I’ve noticed that products sold in North America are more likely to be labelled “Shaoxing Cooking Wine” and contain added salt. From what I’ve read, this allows them to be sold as a cooking ingredient rather than an alcoholic product.
My advice is simple: check the nutrition label and choose a low-sodium product whenever possible. You may also come across Huadiao wine (花雕酒), a premium variety of Shaoxing wine that is often low in salt.
If a recipe calls for only a small amount of Shaoxing wine, a higher-sodium product is usually workable. You can also leave it out altogether. Personally, I wouldn’t buy a bottle of high-sodium cooking wine just for recipes that use a small amount.
Substitution
When a recipe calls for only a small amount of Shaoxing wine, I usually suggest leaving it out rather than buying a bottle specifically for that recipe.
- If you’d prefer a substitute, dry sherry is generally considered a good match.
- For dishes that rely heavily on the flavor of Shaoxing wine, such as Drunken Chicken, there is no true substitute.
FAQs
No. Shaoxing rice wine is an alcoholic product that can be used in cooking, while rice vinegar is a sour, acidic seasoning. They have completely different flavors and uses, and should not be used interchangeably.
No. Although it’s made primarily from glutinous rice, most Shaoxing rice wine also contains wheat.
No. Once opened, keep it tightly sealed in a cool, dark place. It will keep well for many months.
What would I use in place that is non alcoholic? Thank you!
There isn’t a non alcoholic substitute for Shaoxing rice wine. However, you can skip it if a recipe calls for only a small amount.
Thanks very much, Wei! I find your recipes and the care you take to make additional information and suggestions (tips) to make for interesting reading. You are inspiring me to start cooking Chinese dishes which I’ve previously thought to be too time consuming!
Glad you find my blog helpful and wish you a fun time cooking Chinese food, Mei!
Where can I buy the Shaoxing drinking wine, not cooking wine. Thanks
I haven’t paid attention to drinking Shaoxing wine but I assume some Chinese stores would have it.
Does the Shaoxing wine version you use in your recipes have SALT? Thank you. I find it very hard to find any unsalted Shaoxing wine where I live in Canada.
The Shaoxing wine I use in my recipes contains 0.08g salt per 100ml. But I’ve seen versions (usually much cheaper) that contain about 0.50g salt per 100ml which I don’t recommend.
hi Can i use balsamic vinegar instead of shaoxing wine?
Hi Nicci! They are not interchangeable. The taste is very different. If a recipe doesn’t call for a big quantity of rice wine, you can simply omit it.
Hi Wei,
I was wondering what Taiwanese brand shaoxing rice wine you use. I also wanted to ask if it is typically supposed to be salty. Thank you.
I’ve used Shaoxing rice wine that’s made in Taiwan but I don’t remember the brand name (if there is any). On the bottle, it just says “Shaoxing rice wine”. Yes, it contains salt so it does taste a little salty.
Since wine doesn’t keep for very long once it’s opened, can you freeze it in small quantities to make the bottle last longer?
You don’t need to freeze Shaoxing rice wine. In Chinese households, it’s always left in the cupboard or on the counter. If you wish, you could keep it in the fridge.
How do you use it to get rid of pork smell? Do you soak it for time before preparing it?
You don’t need to soak the meat in Shaoxing rice wine. Add some to the marinade or simply pour in a little when stirring frying the meat.
do you know a non alcoholic substitute for this shaoxing ? thank you
Hi Muhammad! I don’t think there is a non-alcoholic substitute for Shaoxing rice wine. If the recipe only calls for a small amount of rice wine, please feel free to omit it.
How about plum wine as a substitute for Shaoxing rice wine? I’ve never tasted plum wine, so I have no idea whether it’s at all similar. Thanks for your help.
I guess you mean Korean Maesil-ju by plum wine. I don’t think it’s a suitable substitute as it’s pretty fruity and sweet, very different from Shaoxing rice wine. If a recipe calls for a very small amount of Shaoxing rice wine, please feel free to skip it.
try an sherry or marsala wine if it is just a small amount and you can’t find Shaoxing. I think that would be better than leaving it out. It’s like a sweeze of lemon with a dash of sugar and salt. It adds to the mouth feel.