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As the Laba Festival sweeps across the Chinese mainland, a tangy tradition is bubbling up in Shanxi Province—and it’s all about vinegar. Crowds of residents in Taiyuan flocked to a century-old shop this week, clutching containers of all sizes to collect freshly brewed vinegar, with many stocking up on at least 2.5 kilograms of the sour staple. The air, thick with the sharp aroma of aged vinegar, hummed with excitement as golden streams flowed from pipes into waiting jars.
Falling on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Laba Festival is not just about rice porridge —in Shanxi, it’s a vinegar lover’s paradise. Known as China’s “vinegar capital,” the region has perfected the craft over generations, blending fermentation techniques with cultural pride. Locals swear by its health benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting immunity—a ritual as timeless as the festival itself.
This year’s rush highlights a growing trend: young people reconnecting with heritage through food. “It’s like a TikTok challenge, but tastier,” laughed one 24-year-old customer. With artisanal foods gaining global buzz, Shanxi’s vinegar brewers are mixing tradition with modernity, proving that some flavors never go out of style.
NewspaperAmigo – Your Global News Buddy 
Vinegar Fever Brews at Shanxi’s Laba Festival 
Crowds of residents in Taiyuan flocked to a century-old shop this week, clutching containers of all sizes to collect freshly brewed vinegar, with many stocking up on at least 2.5 kilograms of the sour staple. The air, thick with the sharp aroma of aged vinegar, hummed with excitement as golden streams flowed from pipes into waiting jars.
—in Shanxi, it’s a vinegar lover’s paradise. Known as China’s “vinegar capital,” the region has perfected the craft over generations, blending fermentation techniques with cultural pride. Locals swear by its health benefits, from aiding digestion to boosting immunity—a ritual as timeless as the festival itself.
