asian vinegars

Rice vinegar is an incredibly important ingredient in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cooking. It has quite a mellow flavour and is less acidic and more delicate than most western vinegars. There are several different kinds of rice vinegar, including white, black and red, each giving a slightly different flavour and intensity.

We stock a range of Asian vinegars to help perfect your dishes. Whether you’re making marinades and sauces or want to add a tangy element of acidity to your dish, we’ve got you covered.

 

cooking with chinese rice vinegar

Made from fermented rice, most Chinese and Japanese rice vinegars have a mild, almost floral flavour. Rice vinegar is different from rice wine in that rice wine does not go through a second fermentation process, making it less acidic than rice vinegar.

It can be used to brighten sauces, soups, dressings and marinades, perfect for adding that signature tang, as well as to flavour sushi rice for a more delicious profile. Asian vinegars are frequently used to complement dishes rather than overwhelm them.

 

chinese black vinegar

Chinese black vinegar is another traditional vinegar used in authentic cooking. Also known as chinkiang, it is a dark, black fermented sauce made from glutinous rice that offers a deep umami flavour. It’s slightly less harsh/acidic than other types of vinegar, so it makes a great addition to dipping sauces. 

 

Black vinegar also has a slight sweetness, so it works well for marinades and braised meats. 

 
We stock plenty of other Asian vinegars and condiments, too, with apple vinegars, vinegar specially designed for dumpling dipping sauces and even spiced coconut vinegar.