Vinegar

Chinese vinegars come in many forms. They are generally sweet, pungent, strong, and fragrant. Their sour, spicy, and tart flavor is essential to many Chinese dishes. Western vinegars tend to be sharper and less subtle. If you substitute Western for Chinese, use less. Chinkiany vinegar is black with a mild, distinctive flavor almost like Italian aceto balsamico vinegar. Chinese vinegars are delicious as dips, too, as they are mild. They come in bottles and keep indefinitely at room temperature. Try them on a selective basis in salads for a change in flavor.