Old wine of Fujian
Fujian laojiu means 'old wine of Fujian'. It is a classic example of the red qu rice wines of southern China, brewed with hongqu, red yeast rice made by growing red Monascus moulds on rice.
From ruby to amber
The red qu gives young wine a ruby colour. With ageing, the Maillard reaction turns it golden-amber and builds complex flavours of caramel and umami. In Fujian, red qu wine is both a drink and a traditional tonic, and it is also widely used in cooking.
Why it matters
Alongside Shaoxing wine, the red qu wines of Fujian are one of the three great regional styles of Chinese huangjiu.