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Rice vinegar looks a lot like the malt and wine vinegars already in most kitchens, which is exactly why it hides so well on a supermarket shelf.
Which aisle is rice vinegar in?
Rice vinegar is in the world food aisle of UK supermarkets, on the shelf with the other Japanese and Chinese ingredients, usually near the soy sauce and mirin. A few stores instead shelve it with the regular vinegars, next to malt and white wine vinegar, so check both spots.
Where to look, supermarket by supermarket
The pattern is similar across Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose. Work through these in order and you will find it, or confirm the branch does not stock it.
- World food aisle, Japanese or Chinese section. Bottled next to soy sauce and mirin. This is where most brands sit.
- Regular vinegar shelf. Some ranges file rice vinegar alphabetically with malt, cider and wine vinegar instead.
- Cooking sauces and condiments. Occasionally shelved near the stir fry sauces rather than the vinegars.
Aisle numbers shift between branches of the same chain, so treat the section as the reliable clue, not a number. Small Express, Local and Metro formats rarely stock it.
Where rice vinegar is in Tesco
Tesco shelves its own brand and Blue Dragon rice vinegar in the world food aisle, under the Japanese and Chinese cooking ingredients. Larger stores also carry a seasoned sushi vinegar in the same spot, so check the label carefully since it is a different product with added sugar and salt.
How to find the exact aisle in your store
Use the supermarket’s own app. The Tesco Grocery and Clubcard app and Sainsbury’s app both show a product’s aisle location for the branch you pick. Searching before you leave saves walking the world food aisle twice.
Which rice vinegar to buy
| Type | Taste | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Plain rice vinegar | Mild, slightly sweet | Dressings, dipping sauces, stir fries |
| Seasoned sushi vinegar | Sweet and salty (sugar and salt added) | |
| Black rice vinegar | Deep, smoky, malty | Chinese braises and dipping sauces |
Buy plain rice vinegar first. It is the version most recipes mean by default, and you can always add your own sugar and salt for sushi rice.
What to ask a member of staff
Say rice vinegar rather than just vinegar, and specify plain rather than seasoned if that matters for the recipe. Asking for vinegar on its own usually gets pointed to the malt and wine vinegar shelf.
Asian supermarkets
A Chinese or Japanese grocer stocks a far wider range, including black rice vinegar and Japanese sushi vinegar side by side, usually at a lower price per bottle than a supermarket own brand.
Buying rice vinegar online
Rice vinegar keeps for a long time and posts easily, so a larger bottle bought online often works out cheaper per use than a small supermarket bottle. Specialist Asian grocers online carry the widest range of styles.
Storing it
Keep the bottle in a cool cupboard, tightly capped. Rice vinegar is acidic enough to keep for a long time once opened, though the flavour is best within a few months.
Frequently asked questions
Is rice vinegar the same as rice wine vinegar?
Yes, the two names are used for the same product on UK shelves. Do not confuse either with rice wine (like Shaoxing wine), which is an entirely different, alcoholic cooking ingredient.
Does rice vinegar go off?
Not quickly. Its acidity means an opened bottle lasts many months in a cool cupboard, though the flavour slowly fades over a long time.
Can I use white wine vinegar instead?
In a pinch, yes, diluted slightly since it is sharper. It will not have the same gentle sweetness as rice vinegar, so the result will taste a little different.
Do all supermarkets sell rice vinegar?
Larger branches of the main chains do. Convenience formats often do not carry it at all, so a bigger store or an Asian grocer is the safer trip.
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- Rice vinegar. A store cupboard bottle that lasts for months.
