Shaoxing wine is a workhorse in the TCM field. It is an ingredient in more than 70 medicines and an ideal way to dispel cold energy from the body in the winter.
Warm a bottle of Shaoxing wine, add a few wolfberries and prepare some peanuts or tofu and presto, you have a wonderful afternoon planned with friends, especially on a chilly winter day.
Huangjiu, literally meaning yellow wine, is an ancient alcoholic drink popular among many Chinese people not only for its delicious taste, but also for its ability to fight the cold. It can help warm the body, relieve stomachache and reinforce the medical function of many herbs.
Shaoxing wine is usually made from sticky rice, with only 15-20 percent alcohol concentration. The most famous are those made in Shaoxing city of Zhejiang Province. And according to different brew methods, the wines are named Hua Diao, Zhuangyuan Hong (No. 1 Scholar Red), Jiafan Jiu (add rice wine), Fenggang Jiu (seal jar wine), Shanniang Jiu (good brew wine) and Chengang Jiu (sink jar wine).
Of course, before indulging in a daily dose of Shaoxing wine, check with your doctor especially if you are taking prescription medication. Pregnant women should not drink it, but TCM doctors say it can help a woman recover faster after giving birth.
Shaoxing wine preserves almost all the nutrients of the original ingredients while the protein and starch are broken down so they can be easily digested and absorbed by the human body. Shaoxing wine is also rich in more than 18 kinds of amino acids, seven of which are essential amino acids that cannot be compounded by the body.
TCM recommends warm (yang energy) Shaoxing wine in the winter to expel cold from the body. It can help warm and sooth energy channels, strengthen the digestive system, nourish skin, and dispel cold and dampness inside.
Drinking an appropriate amount of Shaoxing wine every day , no more than 200 milliliters can help stimulate blood and energy circulation, and promote metabolism. Add some ginger while heating Shaoxing wine to help warm the body, prevent catching a cold and benefit the stomach.
