“Shao Hsing Hua Diao Wine, a condiment you’ll like adding to enhance the aroma and taste of your home cooking”
Shao Hsing Hua Diao Jiu (紹興花雕酒) – a type of rice wine originated from Shao Xing, China. It is mainly made of glutinous rice and wheat. Alcohol content by volume: 16% or less. Its name, Hua Diao describes the flowery carved pottery that stored the wine anciently, but the bottle has been mass produced commercially with simpler design in handy bottle, for convenience and more economical purposes. However, there are still many Hua Diao Wine selling in nice flowery carving designed pottery. Seriously, it does not matter how it is bottled to me, all I care is the quality of wine and its taste added to my cooking.
There are different grades of such wine, for different purposes of drinking and cooking. It resembles the taste of dry sherry. The aroma of this Hua Diao wine is vary, depends on its grade and how much it priced. To my knowledge, those available in most supermarkets and sundry shops, ranged from $2 for a big bottle (lower grade) to $15 for only a small bottle (better grade).
The one that I am using costs $9 for a bottle of 380ml. A 5 year vintage wine from Plum Blossom brand (梅花牌). Its quality and fragrance should be great enough for prefect home cooking. Of course, I like this brand, reason being it does not contain any salt!
I love to use Hua Diao wine to many of my cooking due to its sweet and pleasant aroma added to my dishes, for instances, fried rice, fried bee hoon, steamed fish, prawns, mushrooms dishes, broccolis, soup, and many more! It has become a staple condiment in my kitchen.
Next time when you cook such dishes, try to drizzle some Hua Diao Wine!
Just mt recommendation, to share with you.
e.l.y February 25, 2009
Hi Patricia – do u know if we could also use this wine to cook the chinese drunken chicken that they usually would give to women that just have a natural childbirth to recover the lost blood?
PatriCa BB March 3, 2009
Hi e.l.y,
Yes, you can.
Add it towards the end, or your chicken will become less wine taste.
Anonymous May 14, 2009
Is it suitable to use this wine in meals that are also consume by children?
PatriCa BB May 14, 2009
Hi,
My girl aged 7 drinks my soup or dishes with tablespoon of this rice wine so far.
To me, as long as the dish is cooked long enough for the alcohol to evaporate, leaving some concentrated flavor of the wine, it is OK to be consumed by children.
Not sure if you agree with me…
Celine June 25, 2014
Hi,
I agree with what you wrote. My kids also eat food that is cooked with rice wine, no problems at all. They are still healthy.
Celine June 25, 2014
Hi Patricia,
I agree with what you wrote abt kids eating food cooked with wine. My kids 7 and 9 hv eaten food with cooked with mirin and rice wine. No problems with their health.
Shermaine September 8, 2010
Hi Patricia,
Is Hua Diao Wine the same as Rice Wine. I think they are different right?
PatriCa BB September 8, 2010
Hi shermaine,
Hua diao is a type of rice wine, too. And more well known one will be from Shao Hsing province.
Eugene January 17, 2016
HI Shermaine where can I purchase this Plum Blossom Brand wine that you recommend?
PatriCa BB January 31, 2016
Hi Eugene,
Plum Blossom brand is widely available at major supermarkets and some large scale provision shops. Look at cooking wine cells.
Kris August 9, 2018
Does it expire?
PatriCa BB 雪冰 August 28, 2018
Yes, but long expiration date usually.