Black rice vinegar

Black rice vinegar is very dark in colour with a rich but mild taste and an appealing depth of flavour, similar to Italian balsamic vinegar. It is usually made from glutinous rice, which imparts its mildness and taste. Really good black rice vinegar has a rich, impressive complexity of flavours and aromas. In northern China, it is used for braised dishes, noodles, and sauces.

Shopping tips

Gold Plum’s Chinkiang vinegar from China is the best.

Storage notes

Kept at room temperature, it will last indefinitely.

© Ken Hom and reproduced with his kind permission.

About Ken Hom
Ken Hom OBE is an American-born Chinese chef, author and television-show presenter for the BBC. In 2009 he was appointed honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire for "services to culinary arts". You can find him online at http://kenhom.com/