🍽️ Shanxi Aged Vinegar

Mellow and aromatic, one of China's four famous vinegars.

Shanxi aged vinegar, one of China's four famous vinegars, is centered on Taiyuan and central Shanxi. Made from sorghum, barley and peas, it goes through steaming, fermentation, smoking, leaching and long aging, sun-concentrated in summer and ice-skimmed in winter until it matures. The result is a clear deep-brown liquid with a mellow, rounded acidity that finishes slightly sweet and an aroma that deepens with age. Shanxi people use it with noodles, cold dishes and beyond; it is the soul of local seasoning and also used to steep beans or garlic. Beyond the kitchen, it is an emblem of Shanxi food culture and a common bottled souvenir for visitors.