Shanxi is known as the "vinegar capital", and the old vinegar produced in Shanxi is the first of the four famous vinegars in China. There are many vinegar brands in Shanxi, but surprisingly, the most well-known brands are basically "young" brands, and Yiyuanqing is the only brand with a long history. The history of Yiyuanqing vinegar can be traced back to the early years of the Ming Dynasty, because it is located in an alley in Ninghua Mansion, Shanxi Province, it is called "Ninghuafu Vinegar" by the locals.
 
There are two brewing methods of Shanxi old vinegar, one is the pre-liquid and post-solidification method, and the other is the pure grain full-solid koji method. Most brands use the pre-liquid and post-solidification method, that is, the liquid fermentation of a single strain is used in the early alcohol fermentation process, and the solid-state fermentation is used in the later stage, the disadvantage of this method is that the fermentation flavor is insufficient, the acidity is not enough, and preservatives and flavor agents must be added after vinegar. The method of all-solid koji is more primitive, and only Daqu (multi-strain) made of pure grains is used, and the finished product is rich in vinegar and mellow in taste.
 
Ninghuafu vinegar adopts the pure grain whole solid koji method, after 4 times of vinegar, the acidity of the original vinegar is higher than 4 °, while other vinegar on the market is generally only about 3 °. The most reflective of this is the Ninghua Mansion Famous Vinegar, which is a new vinegar that has not been aged, with a total acid of 4.6g/100ml, dark brown in color, and a strong vinegar flavor, which is comparable to other brands of aged vinegar that has been aged for three years, and is enough for family stir-fry seasoning.
 
Generally speaking, the longer the vinegar is aged, the total acid, volatile acid, reducing sugars and esters in it will increase, that is, the sour taste of vinegar will be richer and richer, so most manufacturers will distinguish vinegar according to the year. This is the case with Ninghuafu's craft vinegar series, which is divided into three-year, five-year, and eight-year-old. After aging, the vinegar is darker in color and looks thicker, and the total acid of the aged vinegar after five years of aging reaches 6g/100ml, but the sourness is soft, there is no pungent feeling, and a variety of aromas are mixed but have a unique flavor of "soy sauce". However, the acidity and flavor of vinegar are not unlimited, so the longer the ageing time, the better. The total acid of eight-year-old vinegar is also 6g/100ml, which is basically the same as that of five-year-old vinegar, but the price is much higher and not cost-effective.
 
Exquisite packaging is also a major feature of Ninghua Fu vinegar, gift boxes from less than 100 yuan to thousands of yuan, the packaging is designed by a professional team, whether it is a gift or their own collection is very suitable.
 
Although Shanxi old vinegar has a well-known reputation in the vinegar market, it has always been the hardest hit area of counterfeit and shoddy products, and Ninghuafu vinegar, which is a famous product of Taiyuan, is even more affected by it. Every year, the "fake Ninghuafu vinegar" that flows into the market accounts for about 5-10%, and it is recommended that consumers buy it through formal channels such as large supermarkets, specialty stores, and official website designated shopping malls.
 
In addition, the "Shangshuijing" circulating on the market is not a sub-brand of Yiyuanqing in Ninghua Prefecture, but Shangshuijing is handed over to Yiyuanqing for OEM production, and the product process is similar to Yiyuanqing, in fact, Yiyuanqing does not sell this series of products, and the "Ninghuafu Flagship Store" that sells the "Shangshuijing" brand is managed by the owner of the Shangshuijing brand and has nothing to do with Yiyuanqing. Authentic Yiyuanqing vinegar can be purchased at three officially certified online stores: Yiyuanqing flagship store in Tmall Mall, Ninghua Fu Licheng specialty store and Ninghua official flagship store in Jingdong Mall.