Definition

Noun: * Violet rice wine: A traditional Vietnamese alcoholic beverage made from fermenting and distilling purple glutinous rice (gạo cẩm), characterized by its deep pink to violet-red color and sweet, aromatic flavor.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Rượu cẩm là một đặc sản của vùng Tây Bắc. (Violet rice wine is a specialty of the Northwest region.)
  • Bà tôi thường dùng rượu cẩm để ngâm thuốc. (My grandmother often uses violet rice wine to steep medicinal herbs.)
  • Màu sắc đẹp của rượu cẩm đến từ hạt gạo cẩm. (The beautiful color of violet rice wine comes from the purple glutinous rice.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Significance: is often associated with ethnic minority groups in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam, such as the Tày or Mường people. It is commonly consumed during festivals, weddings, and important ceremonies, or offered to guests as a sign of hospitality.
• Medicinal Use: It is traditionally believed to have health benefits and is frequently used as a base for steeping medicinal herbs (ngâm thuốc) to create tonics.

Variants and Related Words

• Gạo cẩm (n): Purple glutinous rice; the specific type of rice used to make .
• Rượu nếp (n): General term for rice wine made from glutinous rice. is a specific type of .
• Rượu ngô (n): Corn wine; another traditional alcoholic beverage from the northern mountainous regions.

Synonyms

• Violet glutinous rice wine: A more descriptive English synonym.
• Purple rice alcohol: A direct translation of the components.

Related Phrases / Idioms

• Chén rượu cẩm: A cup of violet rice wine. This phrase evokes the cultural and social context of drinking it, often in a communal or ceremonial setting.
  • Sau bữa cơm, mọi người cùng nâng chén rượu cẩm. (After the meal, everyone raised a cup of violet rice wine together.)

1. Violet rice wine