Yilan Red Yeast Rice Wine (Honglu Jiu)
The sweetness of red koji and the sparkle of amber! There is "old red wine" flowing in the blood of Yilan people!?
Description
A specialty of Yilan, northeastern Taiwan. Fermented using 'Hongzao (Red yeast rice)', it resembles Shaoxing wine but is sweeter, featuring a vibrant reddish-brown color (Honglu Jiu).
Restaurants serving Yilan Red Yeast Rice Wine (Honglu Jiu)
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On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Glutinous rice
- Hongzao(Red yeast rice)
- Rice koji
- Water
Instructions
- [Delicious Way to Drink]
- [Label Features] Generally called 'Honglu Jiu', but Yilan locals affectionately call it 'Lao Hong Jiu'. ABV ~14%.
- [Straight/Rocks] Drank straight or on the rocks like Shaoxing wine. The fruity sweetness and unique rich aroma from red yeast rice make it milder and easier to drink than Shaoxing.
- [Culinary Use (Taiwan Style)] Beyond drinking, Yilan homes use it as the 'ultimate seasoning'. Boiling chicken in this and herbs makes 'Honglu Zui Ji'; using it to stir-fry pork with ginger dyes the dish slightly red, creating deep richness and sweetness.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Fruity、sweet fermented aroma of red yeast rice
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Taiwanese Shaoxing wine (slightly less sweet)
Pairing
Hongzao Rou (Red yeast fried pork) or Yilan duck dishes
Trivia
[For Adults] Certified as the representative 'County Liquor' of Yilan. Historically brewed in Yilan homes as a medicinal wine for postpartum nutrition (Zuo Yuezi) or fending off winter cold. Features beautiful red-wine-like color and gentle fermented umami that soaks into the body.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] On a cold winter night, pour Lao Hong Jiu into a mug, microwave it piping hot, add a little brown sugar (or ginger), and drink as a 'hot cocktail' to warm up!
Allergen
Wheat (from rice koji)