Alcohol in China

5 min read

The use of alcohol can be traced back to the dawn of the nation’s history.It has been used as a libation to express reverence to forefathers，enjoyed by the men of letters while composing poems and proses，and taken to toast the family and friends during a feast.There is no doubt that alcohol has occupied an important role in the culture and life of the Chinese.In modern China，alcohol still retains its role.It appears in almost all social activities and common circumstances，ranging from birthday parties to national banquets.

There are several versions of the origin of alcohol-making.Some believe that Yi Di invented alcohol brewing.Folklore says that Du Kang started brewing.Both of them were legendary persons who lived thousands of years ago.Some even guess that the ape men accidentally found the way of making alcohol.Perhaps you still remember the depiction inJourney to the West，in which the Monkey King and his fellow monkeys drink alcohol in the cave.No matter which version is more authentic than others，they all reveal one fact，that is，China has a long history of alcohol-making.As early as in the Shang Dynasty，people began to use grain to brew alcohol.Inscriptions on bones and turtle shells as well as bronze inscriptions recorded how Shang people worshiped their ancestors with alcohol.

In ancient times，grains were the major material used to ferment alcohol throughout China.

Thus，the grain yield became a criterion by which the governments decided whether to lift the ban on alcohol making or how heavy an alcohol tax to levy.Over the ages，alcohol gradually became closely linked to the daily life and tax burden of the people.

Classification of Alcohol

Jiu is the Chinese word that refers to all alcoholic beverages.Having often been translated into English as”wine，”the meaning is closer to”alcoholic beverage”or”liquor.”The most common categories of alcohol include white liquor，yellow liquor，fruit liquor，and beer.

White liquor，a kind of distilled beverage，is also commonly called“burning liquor” in Chinese，either because of the burning sensation in the mouth，the fact that it is usually warmed before drinking，or because of the heating required for distillation.White liquor is a clear drink usually distilled from sorghum，and it usually contains more than 30%alcohol in volume.In northern China，liquor is generally made from wheat，barley，millet，and sorghum.In southern China，it is typically made from glutinous rice.White liquor generally contains 40%~60%purealcohol，making it one of the world famous potent spirits（the other five are brandy，whisky，rum，vodka，and gin）.The most popular white liquors are Mao Tai，Wuliang Ye，Fen Liquor，Sanhua Liquor，and others.

Yellow liquor is unique in China.With a history of some 5，000 years，it is renowned for its yellow color and luster.It is a type of Chinese alcoholic beverage brewed directly from grains such as rice，millet，and wheat.Unlike white liquor，yellow liquor is not distilled，and usually contains lower alcohol.After the fermentation process，the wine has a balmy fragrance and is sweet tasting with no sharpness.The various styles of yellow liquors vary in color from clear to beige，yellowish-brown，or reddish-brown.Besides being a beverage，yellow liquor is often used in cooking to eliminate the fishy smell.The most popular yellow liquors include Rice Liquor，Huadiao Liquor，and Shaoxing Liquor.

Fruit liquor is mainly made from grapes，pears，oranges，litchis，sugarcane，hawthorn berries，waxberries，and so forth.Fruit wine was probably brought into China from the West in the Han Dynasty and was made popular in the Tang Dynasty.Today，the fruit wine is quite widely produced，with grape wine being the most received.

Chinese people used to drink a kind of alcoholic beverage called Li，which was made from malted cereals.Li has been considered as a type of primitive beer.Gradually，Li disappeared，for it tasted lighter than rice wine in flavor and the brewing techniques had not been handed down.By the end of the Qing Dynasty，foreign brewing techniques were introduced to China.The earliest brewery was established by Russia in Harbin，Heilongjiang Province，in 1900.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China，especially since 1980，the brewing industry has made great progress，and China has been the second-largest beer producer in the world since 1994.Today there are many brands of quality beers which have become well-known and are appreciated both home and abroad，for example，Qingdao Beer（also known as Tsingtao Beer）.

There has even been a beer festival held annually in Qingdao，the production area，since 1991.

Medicated liquor is a kind of integrated alcoholic beverage.Herbs and even animals such as snakes are soaked in white or yellow liquor to cure diseases or preserve and strengthen one’s health.The craft of medical practitioners has been well documented from ancient times，and there are many books that record the methods of producing these health products in detail.

Medicated liquors，such as Tiger-bone Liquor，Safflower Liquor，and Ginseng antler Liquor，are used as a daily tonic by many Chinese.

Medicated liquor is easy to absorb，since liquor can promote blood circulation.Medicine is usually bitter，while drinking medicated liquor is more pleasant than taking medicine.It is also effective in improving one’s countenance.

Drinking Vessels

Like teawares，drinking vessels also possess a long history.During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties，bronze drinking vessels were popular.The vessels could be classified into four categories.In addition to drinking vessels，there were vessels for heating liquor，vessels serving as containers，and vessels used for storage.The vessels were designed and decorated differently as a symbol of the drinkers’social status.

Later during the Qin and Han Dynasties，bronze vessels were on the wane and lacquer vessels became widespread，especially in southern China.As it was the custom for people to sit on the floor while drinking，the vessels often had ear-like handles and tended to be low and chunky for the convenience of the drinker.From the Jin Dynasty onwards，sitting on the bed while drinking became the fashion，and this led to the introduction of drinking vessels that were tall and thin in shape.

Porcelain vessels appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasty，and the size of the vessels became much smaller and more delicate.During the Sui，Tang，and Song Dynasties，porcelain vessels were common，and until the Ming and Qing Dynasties they remained popular.

Besides the above mentioned drinking vessels，there were vessels made from special materials，such as gold，silver，ivory，jade and cloisonne.Although these vessels have never been in common use，they occupy an important position because of their high artistic value.

In recent years，drinking vessels have been mostly made of glass.They are classified according to size.Vessels of small size are used for drinking white liquor.Medium-sized cups are used for drinking beer and grape wine.