Where to find Shaoxing Rice Wine

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:09 pm

Does anyone know where to find Chinese rice wine used in cooking? The supermarkets can't sell it apparently because of high alcohol content. I've asked in Alko (only in Itakeskus)and they don't sell it either. The large Asian stores near Hakkaniemi don't sell it either (or at least the ones I have looked in). I know I can substitute dry sherry or sake but not quite the same. Anyone found it here???

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EP · Post by EP » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:16 pm

I usually just replace it with sake. Or dry sherry.

EP · Post by EP » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:20 pm

Sorry, I just read all of your question, and you already know that you can replace it. I once had a bottle, and when it was finished I switched to sake. My palate does not taste any difference.

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:22 pm

Maybe I'll give Sake another bash!

enk · Post by **enk** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:29 pm

Doesn't help you much, but bring it with you when you come back
from a trip. Or get someone to.

-enk

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:46 pm

"Kaljaa kioskeihin"

stop whining already, or I'll vote Väyrynen for president

carolinemaher · Post by **carolinemaher** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:43 am

That was my plan to bring some back from recent trip to England, but when I did my last minute shopping dash, Tesco and Sainsbury's had momentarily sold out, aagh. No worries, will do next time!

enk · Post by **enk** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:23 am

Yehp, I forgot, too

-enk

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:27 pm

dont think sake and shaoxing are used interchangeably.....

alko wont stock them.....and its illegal for anyone else to stock them...../%#¤%&#%/¤....but it could be available in the black market....imagine meeting in an alleyway for a shaoxing deal....

that aside...i think you can try brewing your own rice wine.....recipe should be readily available online

Kupcake · Post by **Kupcake** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:23 pm

I wonder what the local Chinese restaurants use? You should ask them ...

EP · Post by EP » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:29 pm

I have just last week been to a Chinese cooking course. There we used sherry.

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:47 pm

where did you get the sherry? and which type?

local chinese restaurant...i bet they have a way of getting shaoxing wine.....

EP · Post by EP » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:08 pm

where did you get the sherry?

Well, the course provided it. But there is only one place to get sherry in Finland: local Alko. They all sell it. I didn´t check was it dry or semi sweet, I suppose dry.

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:17 pm

EP wrote:
where did you get the sherry?
Well, the course provided it. But there is only one place to get sherry in Finland: local Alko. They all sell it. I didn´t check was it dry or semi sweet, I suppose dry.

ALKO sells several brands, from crisp and dry fino (drool) to the sweet "cream" variety. The dry sherries - including La Guita Manzanilla - are very, very, very tasty - so much so that I find it well-nigh imposible to "waste" them in cooking

But I'd guess that some Amontillado would do okay as a 'replacement' of rice wine or sake? It would not be exactly the same, of course.

Speaking of sherry - this page WILL make every sherry aficionado exceedingly thirsty, so you've been warned.

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:50 pm

the last time i checked alko for sherry was quite a while ago.......at that time...when asked abt sherry...the lady's face went "??????????"...or i could have chose the wrong alko outlet to go to.

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