Hakka rice wine is a type of rice wine in Hakka cuisine. It is also known as niang wine, or mother wine, due to being produced domestically by Hakka women. It is mainly found in the Hakka city of Meizhou, Guangdong.
Hakka wine is often served as a treat for guests during festivals. New mothers are also encouraged to consume it to aid recovery in the postpartum period.[1]
According to custom, Hakka wine was made by a God. During the period of Barbarians' Invasion of China from 304 AD to 439 AD, the Hakka people immigrated to the South of China. However, they were exhausted due to the long distances. The god in his mercy taught them the methods of brewing the wine as refreshment. Hakka ancestors regarded the mother liquor with special medical effects as treasure and passed it on from generation to generation.[2]
In the Hakka areas, the methods of traditional Hakka rice wine not only still spreads in the hands of some housewives, but also forms a standard production process in industry:
Mother wine chicken (娘酒雞), also known as ginger wine chicken or wine fried chicken, is a traditional Hakka relishing dish eaten in winter, made with ginger, chicken and rice wine. To start with, minced ginger and chopped chicken are fried together, and then with a moderate amount of glutinous rice wine boiled.[4]
The dish usually appears at important occasions, such as in a Hakka family reunion, and the Spring Festival, where it is consumed by people of all ages and genders. According to traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed to promote blood circulation and dispel the wind [It is warm in nature and dispels cold and dampness. ], and is used as a nutritional supplement for women who have just given birth.[5]