Taiwanese black vinegar is the wild child of the black vinegar family, more analogous to Worcestershire sauce than the Chinese black grain vinegars it’s commonly associated with. It’s used all across Taiwanese cuisine, from seasoning Oyster Vermicelli and Dan Zai noodles to dipping soup dumplings. Add a couple drops to soups and stews with a healthy grind of white pepper for a journey back to the streets of Taiwan.
It’s got a tangy, fruity taste that goes perfectly with Taiwanese food, but also great as a seasoning for grilled meats or cold salads. You could use it as a vegan sub for Worcestershire or in Japanese recipes for tonkatsu sauce and yakisoba. It’s not a good substitute for the rest of the Chinese black vinegar family. Compared to other vinegars, it’s very low in acid, only 3.1%.
This black vinegar is fermented naturally, steeped with pomelos, ume plums, and Taiwan lemons, and packaged in a long-neck glass bottle with a dispenser top. It’s colored with true caramel and has a hint of licorice extract, but not so much that you’d notice. The glutinous rice used in the vinegar is grown in Taiwan.
Tasting Notes and Usage
plum, molasses, lemon drop
3.1% acidity
Ingredients and Instructions
water, glutinous rice, wheat, plum, lemon, pomelo, sugar, salt, caramel (sugar), licorice extract
230 ml
Opening the Bottle
Our Wu Yin vinegar bottles have a protective seal underneath the black spout that needs to be removed before use. Sometimes, the temperature change during shipment from Taiwan's warm climate to a colder one can make them tough to open.
Here's what works for us: run warm water over the spout for a minute or two to loosen it up. Then
twist off the spout. If the spout is still stuck, gently work a fork under its edge. Always keep a good grip on the bottle and point it away from yourself when opening. Once the spout is off, remove the protective seal and put the spout back on for pouring.
About Gao Ji Wu Yin Vinegar
Gao Ji Wu Yin Vinegar 高記五印醋 is a Taiwanese vinegar producer that was founded in 1903. Wu Yin Vinegar 五印醋 translates to Five Chop Vinegar, named after the 5 red labels attached to their vinegar vats in the old days.
Now run by the fourth generation, it’s one of the longest operating vinegar fermenters in Taiwan; their product is used by some of the oldest and most well known eateries. The beloved noodle shop Du Xiao Yue 台南度小月擔仔麵 in Tainan uses Wu Yin Vinegar in their Dan Zai Mian, one of Taiwan’s most iconic street foods. Din Tai Fung used it back in their mom-and-pop days on Yongkang street, too.
