With a history that dates back to  the Song Dynasty (960-1279), red yeast rice wine, which is also known as red fermented rice wine, is very famous in China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. 

Unlike other Chinese rice wines, it has a distinctive red color, thanks to its main ingredient the red yeast rice that grows widely in China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

Its flavor is a little sweet and sour, and the taste lingers on the tip of your tongue for a long time.

How is red yeast rice wine made? 

Red yeast rice wine is made by fermenting cooked white glutinous rice that has been mixed with the red yeast rice and Chinese red yeast for about 30 days. During the fermentation process, one can easily observe lots of gas bubbles in the rice mixture. Over time, the glutinous rice will gradually turn into liquid. When the process is complete, the remaining rice will settle at the bottom of the vat, and no more gas bubbles will be present. Brewing red yeast rice wine is very common among local families.

Great value

Moderate drinking of red yeast rice wine is said to help lower cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure as well as prevent cancer.  

The wine also enjoys a long shelf life, as according to vendors, it can be stored in the refrigerator for a year or so. Red yeast rice wine can also be used as a sort of condiment in cooking. For example, to make the famous Red Glutinous Rice Wine Chicken, red yeast rice wine is a must.  

(Cover: Workers stir red yeast rice to make red yeast rice wine. /VCG Photo)