Shaoxing wine (Shaoshinchu)

Shaoxing wine is a representative Chinese brewed alcoholic beverage, produced mainly in and around Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province. It is made chiefly from non-glutinous rice and fermented with cake-shaped koji (mochi-koji), which consists of a fermentation starter (jiuyao, 酒薬) and wheat koji. Shaoxing wine typically has a distinctive, rich aroma and a deep flavor, and its color ranges from amber to yellowish brown. Shaoxing wine aged without pasteurization is especially concentrated in flavor and pairs well with food, and it is widely loved. It is enjoyed not only in China but also in many food cultures around the world.