In China, maotai (or maotai) is known as 'the national liquor'. It is made from a grain called red sorghum at Kweichow Moutai Co, Ltd, the country's most famous baijiu (Chinese spirits) distillery. Moutai is served at all Chinese state banquets and often presented as diplomatic gifts.
Well, Baijiu has been made in China for more than 5,000 years. The country's national drink, it outsells the likes of gin, vodka, rum and even whisky.
Baijiu is a type of Chinese traditional distilled liquor and regarded as one of the most famous distilled liquors in the world, together with brandy, gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey. As a product, it is not only an important commodity but also has a very close connection with social and economic activities.
Baijiu is very strong - typically 40 - 60% alcohol - and yet it offers a complexity of fruit, citrus, floral and umami flavours.
It is a Chinese liquor, specifically baijiu (white liquor), which may not sound familiar and is certainly not commonly served in most San Francisco bars, but is consumed all throughout China. With a high alcohol percentage and ABV's ranging from 80% to 120% proof, this fire water is not for the faint of heart.
While baijiu is often consumed straight-up in shots or sipped, cocktails mixing baijiu with other flavors have recently become more popular.
Even a business lunch will see plenty of baijiu consumed, as the spirit is believed to bless the venture with good fortune. Another reason for the use of baijiu in a business setting is that your Chinese hosts will be assessing you. If you are prepared to join them in drinking baijiu, it will show fortitude.
Baijiu (Chinese: 白酒; pinyin: báijiǔ; lit. 'white (clear) liquor'), also known as shaojiu (烧酒/燒酒), is a colorless Chinese liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Traditionally baijiu is served neat at room temperature to accompany food at mealtimes. It is poured into tiny, thimble-sized shot glasses that are downed in a series of communal toasts. One always drinks with others, so baijiu is associated with raucous, festive drinking sessions.
The basics of drinking baijiu are simple. In China baijiu is traditionally served neat and at room temperature. One drinks it at mealtimes in the company of others, usually through a series of communal toasts followed by shots from diminutive glasses.
Citrus goes very well with it; so does Absinthe and Mescal. So play around with spices, Ginger, Sherry, Nutty Liqueurs, Herbal Liqueurs, and Amari, is the perfect way to introduce yourself to Baijiu. While fruits like fresh red berries tend to get lost, others like Pineapple is a great compliment.
But your tastebuds probably haven't experienced it—yet. Have you heard about baijiu? You will soon. Pungent, distinctive, and clear as mineral water, the national drink of China is often cited as the most consumed liquor in the world.
Kweichow Moutai is the most famous Chinese liquor brand, regarded as the national liquor in China. It is the origin of sauce-aroma liquor and has a history of more than 800 years. Moutai is made from high-quality sorghums and high-temperature wheat yeast in Maotai Town in Guizhou Province.
At most dinners, the drink will be beer, baijiu, or both. Baijiu (Chinese 白酒, meaning white alcohol) is a distilled liquor made from sorghum. It can be considered the national drink of China, and it is quite harsh and strong to the uninitiated foreigner.
The Essentials of Sake, Japan's National Drink. Although beer has become the popular go-to alcohol of Japan's izakayas and bars, sake remains the treasured national drink for gifting, sealing business and family deals, and reconnecting with the country's history and roots.
What is it? Strong-aroma baijiu is highly complex and aromatic. It has a fragrance reminiscent of overripe tropical fruit, especially pineapple, banana and guava, and an earthy cheese-like note deeper down. In the mouth it contains all of these flavors and a note of anise punctuated by a long, peppery finish.
Baijiu (meaning 'white liquor') is China's national drink, dating back thousands of years. During the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century, it was drunk only by royalty and high society during celebratory events.
Baijiu is very popular in China, and it has a distinctive taste and smell that makes it a key ingredient in specific dishes and in Chinese cured meats. For connoisseurs, there are many types and varieties classified by their different “fragrances,” or aromas/flavor profiles.
Baijiu can make the body stronger and preserve life
Research in China has concluded that Baijiu has the highest health benefits, even more so than wine and the grapes used within its production.
"Traditionally, soju is fermented white rice with a crisp flavor, a little apple, and sometimes a touch of burnt rice." Soju is often called the Korean vodka, since it's smooth, mild, and mostly neutral, but it clocks in at about half the alcohol content.
Baijiu Basics
Baijiu is a white spirit distilled from fermented sorghum, rice or other grains. Sounds a little like whiskey, doesn't it? Of course, calling baijiu whiskey is missing some serious context. In terms of flavor, baijiu is rarely anything like its Western grain-based cousins.
The story of baijiu is the story of China. 7000-5000 BCE: The Chinese have been drinking longer than anyone can remember, long before recorded history. Nine thousand years ago in Jiahu, Henan Province, people brew a drink from rice, honey, grapes and hawthorn fruit. It is the world's oldest known alcoholic beverage.
More than one in three people with East Asian heritage (Chinese, Japanese and Korean) experience facial flushing when drinking beer, wine or spirits. In Asian populations, it is due to an inherited deficiency in one of the enzymes involved in the breakdown of alcohol: aldehyde dehydrogenase.
Popular Baijiu Brands: Lú Zhōu Lǎo Jiào Baijiu
More than any other baijiu, tradition is essential to the creation of Lú Zhōu Lǎo Jiào. This spirit is brewed in clay pots in the Xinhua Village of the Chizhou province. Lú Zhōu Lǎo Jiào is often a very strong baijiu, with alcohol content in excess of 50%.