Black Rice Vinegar
A dark black, smoky-malty sweet Chinese vinegar made by long fermentation of roasted glutinous rice or millet. Also known as Chinkiang vinegar, it is a base ingredient for stir-fries and dipping sauces.
What Is Black Rice Vinegar?
Black rice vinegar is a dark-colored Chinese vinegar made by putting roasted glutinous rice (in some types mixed with millet or wheat) through a long fermentation and aging process.
Its best-known variety comes from China's Zhenjiang (Chinkiang) region and is protected by a geographical indication. Compared to white rice vinegar, it has a much darker, smoky-malty, and mildly sweet profile.
Nutritional Value of Black Rice Vinegar
100 ml of black rice vinegar contains about 15 kcal of energy; it is a low-calorie product. Values vary by brand and are approximate.
How Should Black Rice Vinegar Be Consumed?
Black rice vinegar is consumed as part of a balanced diet, in moderate amounts like other vinegars.
This information is general; black rice vinegar is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.
How to Choose Black Rice Vinegar?
A good black rice vinegar is one with a color close to dark-black, a distinct smoky-malty smell, and a label stating Chinkiang/Zhenjiang origin.
- The color should be close to dark-black
- The smell should be distinctly smoky-malty, without a dominant sharp acetic smell
- The label should state the origin (preferably Zhenjiang/Chinkiang)
How to Store Black Rice Vinegar?
Black rice vinegar can be stored for a long time in a closed bottle at room temperature; thanks to its acidic structure it is resistant to spoiling.
Using Black Rice Vinegar in the Kitchen
Black rice vinegar is most often used in the sautéed and sweet-and-sour sauces of Chinese cuisine, in dumpling-dumpling dipping sauce, and as a finishing touch in soups.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between black rice vinegar and white rice vinegar?
White rice vinegar is lighter, cleaner, and more acidic; black rice vinegar, on the other hand, is fermented for longer, is dark in color, and has a smoky-malty, mildly sweet profile.
Can black rice vinegar and balsamic vinegar be used interchangeably?
Partly; both have a dark and sweetish profile, but their flavor notes differ, and if the recipe is specifically for Chinese cuisine, black rice vinegar gives a more suitable result.
Is black rice vinegar found in Turkey?
It can be found in specialty stores selling Asian products and online; it is not common.