Printable Reference
Chinese Pantry Decoder Cheat Sheet
A compact guide to common Chinese pantry ingredients and what they do in dishes.
Cheat sheet
| Term | Meaning | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 生抽 | Light soy sauce | Salt and savory seasoning. |
| 老抽 | Dark soy sauce | Color, gloss, and mild sweetness. |
| 镇江香醋 | Chinkiang vinegar | Dark acidity for dumplings, noodles, and soups. |
| 绍兴酒 | Shaoxing wine | Aroma, marinade, and braising depth. |
| 豆瓣酱 | Doubanjiang | Fermented Sichuan chile-bean flavor. |
| 蚝油 | Oyster sauce | Sweet-savory body; shellfish signal. |
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