Description
A health liquor with a high ABV, featuring an intense herbal aroma and amber color. Dozens of raw herbs, primarily 'Wujiapi (Acanthopanax root bark)', are steeped in a Kaoliang liquor base.
Restaurants serving Wujiapi Liquor (Ginseng & Herbal Wine)
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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
- Kaoliang liquor
- Wujiapi(Acanthopanax root bark)
- Herbs like Dong Quai
- Rock sugar
Instructions
- [Delicious Way to Drink]
- [Label Features] The main ingredient is root bark of the Araliaceae plant 'Wujiapi' (good for nourishment). Sold in Taiwanese supers/liquor stores in characteristic gourd-shaped ceramic bottles (or glass).
- [Straight] ABV ~34%. Poured into a small glass, it's a dark reddish-brown (amber) like black vinegar or soy sauce.
- Smelling it gives an intense herbal scent 'exactly like stepping into a Chinese pharmacy'.
- One sip brings a punchy Kaoliang alcohol hit, followed by complex herbal bitterness, and then a rush of strong rock sugar sweetness.
- [Hot Water Mix] In winter, mixing with a little hot water blooms the herbal aroma further, warming you from the core (loved by Taiwanese elders as a 'nightcap').
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense medicinal aroma of Wujiapi and Dong Quai
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Yomeishu (taste is very similar)
Pairing
Strong braised dishes、or drinking alone before bed
Trivia
[Hardcore] Considered the root of Japan's 'Yomeishu' (tastes similar, but much higher ABV). Believed to prevent colds, improve circulation, and ease joint pain; the 'water of life' Taiwanese grandpas sip for health. The smell is too intense for youth, making it entirely for hardcore fans.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] To maximize medicinal effects, down one glass straight 'gulp' on a cold winter day, then immediately jump into bed and sleep soundly!
Allergen
Wheat (from Kaoliang base)