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Fermentation Atlas

Alcoholic drinks

Jiafan jiu (Huadiao; Nü'er hong)加饭酒

Made in 9 steps over 3.1 months – 3.5 months. The longest step, slow ferment in clay jars (houjiao), takes at least 2.6 months (Zhejiang Liquor Industry Association 2025) and runs at up to 20 °C (Zhejiang Liquor Industry Association 2025).

Key numbers
Main stepat least 2.6 monthsSet[sx-spec][cn-mission]Slow ferment in clay jars (houjiao)
Temperatureup to 20 °CSet[sx-spec]Slow ferment in clay jars (houjiao)

What makes this one different

'Added rice': more rice relative to water (and historically rice added in stages) → semi-dry, 1–3 % sugar, fuller body. Huadiao = carved-jar aged jiafan; Nü'er hong jars buried at a daughter's birth and dug up for her wedding; ~16 % ABV (WP/ZHWP).

Primary fermentation
Same as yuanhong, but the mash may reach 37 °C in the traditional method (33 °C automated)
Rice and water
More rice relative to water than yuanhong
Finished wine (semi-dry)
At least 14.5 % vol; sugar 15.0–30.0 g/L; total acid 4.0–8.0 g/L; amino nitrogen at least 0.65 g/L

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.

Total time across the recorded steps: 3.1 months – 3.5 months

Start
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Close-up: water moving into a grainshapes, not to countLactic acid bacteria

What changes: The rice soaks under water for weeks while lactic bacteria sour the water

Step 1 of 9 · steps of Shaoxing huangjiu, Yuanhong (dry); base flow for Shaoxing wines
Soak the glutinous rice
Time
9–18 days
Set
Temperature
Not documented
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
Yeasts

A 2022 review gives 16–20 days for traditional soaking. Output: soaked rice and sour soak water.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
grains swell and soften
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

lactic bacteria sour the soak water

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source