You may have eaten XO sauce, but do you know what “XO” means?

Loanwords: "XO sauce" and "XO jiàng" (English and Chinese pronunciation)

Origin: Hong Kong, "XO sauce"

Taiwanese Chinese: "XO "XO sauce" (XO ㄐㄧㄤˋ) "XO jiàng"

Chinese: "XO sauce" "XO jiàng"

English: "XO sauce, a spicy seafood sauce."

"XO sauce" is a seasoning in Hong Kong. It is mainly made from seafood and chili. It has a fresh and spicy taste. "XO sauce" appeared in Hong Kong's high-end restaurants (what Taiwanese call restaurants) around the 1980s, and became popular in the 1990s, becoming a seasoning with Hong Kong characteristics.

There was once a saying that columnist Wang Tingzhi, when he was the production consultant of the Peninsula Hotel, modified the taste of Mala Zhan produced by the hotel's Chinese restaurant "Jialin Tower" and added Shrimp and scallops (what Taiwanese call "scallops", so some Taiwanese call it "scallop sauce"), supplemented by finely ground garlic and whole chili peppers. However, the material of "XO sauce" is very different from that of Malazhan, so we have doubts about this statement.

The more common saying now is that according to the content of the "Commander in Chief" program of "Jade Channel" owned by Hong Kong TVB on February 28, 2010, the host Peng Jianxin said that "XO Sauce" is a station Next to him, the famous Hong Kong chef Huang Yongchi (known as "Brother Zhi") invented it, and Huang Yongchi also nodded in agreement.

"Admiral's Feast" is a food and beverage program produced by Hong Kong Television Broadcasting Co., Ltd. and is broadcast on "Jade Channel" on Sunday from 20:00-21:00.

The name of "XO sauce" is different from ordinary Chinese sauces. It uses the English word "XO" as the name of the sauce.

Because Hong Kong’s economy was booming in the 1970s and 1980s, various famous European and American wines were introduced to Hong Kong at this time, including French Cognac “Cognac” brandy. Brandy "Brandy" is a kind of distilled wine. Its production grade is related to the time it is stored in oak barrels for aging. The longer it is aged in oak barrels, the higher the quality. "XO" means "Extra Old", at least To be stored in oak barrels for 10 years. Since the production of "XO" grade cognac is small and therefore expensive, "XO" in Hong Kong has been extended to mean the most advanced and luxurious, just like "Louis Vuitton", which we refer to as "LV" today, is the most expensive brand in the clothing industry. Top notch. It can be seen that the ingredients of "XO sauce" have nothing to do with "XO" brandy. This kind of sauce appeared in Hong Kong during that period. The use of the "XO" name can express that this is the highest-priced and highest-quality sauce. In fact, "XO sauce" is often packaged as a high-end sauce in the market, and its price is generally much more expensive than other common sauces.

When preparing "XO sauce", scallops (scallops) and Jinhua ham are usually added. These two relatively expensive ingredients can bring a unique umami flavor to the sauce, but they also make it The price of "XO sauce" is higher.

When "XO Sauce" became popular in Cantonese restaurants around the world, each restaurant produced different "XO Sauce" and their respective recipes became the trade secrets of each restaurant.

There is no certain standard for the ingredients of "XO Sauce", but they mainly include scallops, dried shrimps, Jinhua ham and chili, etc. The taste is fresh and spicy. Various places in Taiwan have "XO sauce" made with slightly different ingredients. Some add dried fish and shrimp skin, and some add small rolls, so the taste is not authentic. Lee Kum Kee's "XO Sauce" imported from Hong Kong was once very popular in Taiwan. I recently went to Dihua Street in Taipei City to buy a can of Lee Kum Kee's "XO Sauce". The store owner will give you a can and ask you to look carefully at the words "Made in China" printed on it, reminding you that it is no longer made in Hong Kong. Please Identify. He will also tell you that the scallops used in the "XO sauce" made in Taiwan are produced in Japan and are more delicious. Of course you just buy a can of "XO Sauce" made in Taiwan.