Food glossary
What is XO?
XO — XO stands for 'extra old' and is used to show that a cognac has been aged for an extended period of time. The legal minimum for this designation is seven years old but most XO cognacs are much older than that, many ranging from 20 to 50 years old. The minimum age of the youngest cognac in the blend must be at least seven years old. The minimum age of VS (very special) cognac is two years old and…
XO stands for 'extra old' and is used to show that a cognac has been aged for an extended period of time. The legal minimum for this designation is seven years old but most XO cognacs are much older than that, many ranging from 20 to 50 years old. The minimum age of the youngest cognac in the blend must be at least seven years old. The minimum age of VS (very special) cognac is two years old and that of VSOP (very superior old pale) is four years old.
XO sauce is also a sauce and condiment used in Chinese cooking. Ingredients include dried shrimp, dried scallops and garlic, along with other flavourings, often chillies. XO sauce can be used as a dip or in stir-fries.