What is Baijiu? Guide to Chinese Spirits

Discover everything you need to know about China’s national drink: baijiu! This alcoholic beverage has a unique flavour profile and offers something a little different for your liquor cabinet.

What is Baijiu?

The word baijiu can be translated into ‘white spirits’. It is a diverse category of alcoholic drink that is firmly rooted in Chinese history and culture. The distilled spirit is incredibly popular and widely drunk in China, but little known elsewhere in the world.

It is typically made from fermented sorghum, although other grains can be used. There are four main types of baijiu, each categorised by their aroma – rice, light, sauce and strong. Each tastes distinct and will be made slightly differently.

How is Baijiu Made?

Different brands may use slightly divergent methods for making baijiu but basic production usually comes down to the same essential steps.

The simplified explanation is that sorghum (or other grain) is cooked and fermented with qu, a grain-based culture that creates enzymes, breaks down the sorghum and helps provide that distinctive baijiu flavour.

After the basic baijiu mixture has been fermented in a ceramic pot for several months it is distilled and finally aged in clay pots.

What Does Baijiu Taste Like?

Baijiu tends to have quite a strong flavour, with the main notes depending on the aroma type of the drink:

• Rice Aroma: Tends to offer the most delicate flavour and has a slightly sweeter, smoother quality thanks to its rice content.
• Light Aroma: Has hints of floral or fruity flavours.
• Sauce Aroma: Provides a unique savoury flavour with bold umami notes reminiscent of soy sauce.
• Strong Aroma: The most popular and widely available type of baijiu with strong earthy and fruity flavours.

Some types and flavours are more associated with particular provinces than others, leading to regional specialities.

A glass and bottle of Jiugui by Badagnani / CC BY 3.0

How Strong is Baijiu?

Chinese baijiu is usually around 35-60% ABV, which makes it comparable to a strong vodka in terms of alcohol content.

For another comparison, the popular Korean spirit soju is only usually about 20% ABV.

How Do You Drink Baijiu?

Traditionally, baijiu is served neat and at room temperature. It is usually drunk from small shot glasses at communal meals and times of celebrations, often being used in toasts.

When enjoying baijiu, Chinese drinking etiquette calls for you to fill others' glasses to the brim, hold the glass with your right hand, always toast before drinking and never drink before toasting. A popular Chinese drinking toast is ‘ganbei’ which means ‘dry cup’, indicating you are supposed to drink your baijiu (or other drink) in one go like a shot – you should always empty your glass.

You should also pay careful respect towards your host. In Chinese drinking culture, it may be considered bad manners to stop drinking before your host or superior. The host/head of the table should also be the first one to make a toast. Keep your glass low when toasting as this shows humility and respect.

Drinking Baijiu at Lunar New Year

While baijiu is often enjoyed at casual mealtimes and gatherings, it is also a particularly common sight at celebrations, functioning to bring people together and show trustworthiness.

The Lunar New Year is the ideal time to enjoy baijiu as it can be given as a gift and perfectly puts you in the festive spirit.

If you’re celebrating the Lunar New Year this year or just want to try something a little different at your next gathering, why not give baijiu a go? Steeped in a rich culture of tradition and bursting with unique flavours, you certainly won’t be disappointed!

If you are keen to try even more drinks that you might not have come across before, check out our full range of Asian and Chinese alcohol.