Types of Lu Wei: hot, cold and vacuum-packed

Lu Wei in Taiwan roughly splits into three forms: “hot” braised food blanched to order at night markets and eaten warm; “cold” braised food that cools in the brine and is served as-is with drinks; and vacuum-packed braised food sealed for chilled or frozen delivery. Choose hot for the fresh-off-the-pot experience, cold for ready-to-eat platters, vacuum-packed for delivery and stocking up — and remember that a vacuum seal is not preservation: low-temperature storage per the label is still required.

Hot Lu Wei: the night-market style

Hot Lu Wei is how most people first meet braised food at night markets: pick your ingredients, the vendor blanches them in brine or broth on the spot, then tops with pickled greens, scallions or chili sauce. The appeal is immediate heat and broth aroma; it is best finished on site as flavor changes while cooling.

Cold Lu Wei: the drinking-snack style

Cold Lu Wei is braised through, then cooled so ingredients keep absorbing brine as the temperature drops — deeper and more concentrated than the hot style. Traditional shops mostly belong here: slice, plate and eat without reheating. Yi-Zhen-Xiang’s takeaway items at the Xizhi store follow this style.

Vacuum-packed: the deliverable style

Vacuum-packed Lu Wei seals braised items airtight for chilled or frozen storage, enabling temperature-controlled delivery, gifting and meal prep. The key concept: vacuum sealing only removes air — it does not sterilize. Per Taiwan FDA guidance, an oxygen-free environment can actually favor anaerobic bacteria, so cold-chain storage remains mandatory.

Always store vacuum-packed products at the temperature stated on the label, never at room temperature for long, refrigerate promptly after delivery, and follow the label for serving and reheating.

Vacuum sealing is not preservation — keep it cold

Storage temperature and shelf life follow the label

Refrigerate or freeze promptly after delivery

Which form to choose

For the blanched-to-order experience, go hot. For ready-to-eat platters with drinks, go cold. For delivery, gifting or stocking up, go vacuum-packed. There is no ranking — only fit for the occasion.

Which tastes better, hot or cold Lu Wei?

There is no objective answer — they are different styles. Hot Lu Wei offers immediate warmth and broth; cold Lu Wei offers deep, concentrated flavor. Pick by occasion.

Can vacuum-packed Lu Wei sit at room temperature?

Not for long. A vacuum seal is not preservation; per Taiwan FDA guidance, anaerobic bacteria remain a risk. Store chilled or frozen as the label states and refrigerate promptly after delivery.

Which type does Yi-Zhen-Xiang sell?

The Xizhi takeaway store sells cold-style braised items; the online catalogue ships vacuum-packed products with temperature-controlled delivery. Follow the package label or store guidance for storage and serving.