Chinese Booze

The cause of and solution to many of the problems faced while in China, the various alcohols found on tap in the Middle Kingdom are as abundant as they are varied. From China's staple baijiu, to the widely-available domestic brand beers and wines, there is no shortage of firewater to either complement or replace a meal with.

Note: By no means does Lost Laowai endorse excessive drinking; live it - perhaps, endorse it - no.

{tab=Baijiu} Baijiu: The White Devil

There are many jokes about "how to know you've been in China too long," but perhaps the most relevant one would be: "You know you've been in China too long when you enjoy a nice glass of baijiu."

Usually made by distilling sorghum, it is not unlike vodka in looks. The similarities end there however. Its subtle sweetness gives one an initial "this ain't so bad" feeling, which is quickly followed by panic and a rapid search of your memory for all available objects that might assist you in removing it from your system. At 80-120% proof, baijiu ranges from spicy bite to paint strippingly alcoholic. The two most well-known baijiu brands are {jgbox width:=[400] height:=[375] linktext:=[Mao Tai]}

Maotai

(Chinese: 茅台酒; pinyin: M�ot�i jiǔ) or Moutai (spelling used by the producing company), is arguably the most famous Chinese liquor, or baijiu. It is produced in the Guizhou province of southwestern China. Maotai, which classifies as "sauce-flavoured" (酱香, jiangxiang), is distilled from fermented sorghum and now comes in different versions ranging in alcohol content from the standard 53% by volume down to 35%.

Source: www.answers.com{/jgbox} and {jgbox width:=[400] height:=[350] linktext:=[Er Guo Tou]}

Er Guo Tou

(二锅头; pinyin: �rguōt�u; lit. "head of the second pot") is a strong, clear distilled liquor. It is inexpensive, and thus particularly popular among blue-collar workers in Beijing.

Source: www.answers.com{/jgbox}. They sit at opposing ends of the cost charts with Mao Tai starting at about 300 RMB ($45 US) per bottle, and Er Guo Tou priced around 8 RMB ($1 US) per bottle. One offers you a level of refinement and sophistication, while the other delivers a punch to the gut and doesn't call you the next day. Should neither extreme be your taste, there is a spectrum of other brands that fill the in-between.

{tab=Pijiu} Pijiu: An Ale For All Your Ills

Though slow to start in China, beer is rumored to have replaced baijiu as the most drunk drink. Introduced originally, as with most places, by the Germans, it is with these lighter tastes in mind that Chinese beers are brewed.

Beer comes in bottles larger than what are standard in Western countries. With your average Budweiser weighing in at about 350 ml, it is easily overshadowed by the 500-750 ml bottles of Chinese brew.

Tsingtao (Qingdao) is the nation's #1 fizzy export, and has a huge domestic following as well. Brewed in the city of its moniker, Qingdao, Shandong, it is widely available and is generally quite cheap. Like its distant cousin, Baijiu, Chinese beer also has a plethora of brands to choose from, and most locals have their intra-city/province label.

In most mom & pop restaurants you'll pay 2-5 RMB per bottle, with the price rising to 10-30 RMB at the bars and clubs. Shops will often sell the cheap brands for 2 RMB, but may charge you a bottle deposit (often just written on random bits of cut-up cardboard) to assure you'll bring the bottles back to them. Be warned that it is not at all uncommon for the cheap brands to be fakes.

{tab=Wines} Wines

Be sure that if you are asking for wine at a restaurant that they understand you want putao jiu (grape alcohol), as baijiu is often mistranslated as "wine". In most major cities you'll be able to find a selection of imported reds (hong putao jiu or simply hong jiu) and whites (bai putao jiu).

China also has a rather quickly burgeoning collection of domestic vintners. Though popularity is still rather elitist, there are a number of wines priced competitively with their foreign counterparts. Rieslings, and Merlots might require a bit of a hunt, but most shops with wines will carry some Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays. Prices range greatly, as they do in any country - but you can find cheaper, but not horrible tasting bottles for 30-40 RMB, and a decent bottle for around 70 RMB.

{tab=Spirits/Hard Liquor} Spirits/Hard Liquor

Often the small shops wont carry much in the way of spirits (with baijiu and possibly vodka as two exceptions), but larger supermarkets will almost always have a wide choice - from Hennessy and Johnnie Walker to Smirnoff and even tequila and a variety of liqueurs.

The more upscale Chinese-like bars will almost always feature a collection of rather rich men surrounded by some none-too-hard-on-the-eyes girls all drinking an expensive bottle of liquor and playing dice games. These are supplemented with more Western-style clubs that will sell you shots at the bar.

As for domestic brands of whiskey, vodka, or rum - they're uncommon. Imports are the rule, and as such, expect prices the same as or more (due to the cost of import) than at home.

{/tabs}
Culture Notes:

1. China is full of heavy drinkers, at near all times of the day. Drinking and driving, though outlawed, is common. Due to face and such, it's not as common for a friend or colleague to tell someone that they've had too many and they should leave the keys with the bar and call a cab. An important tid-bit to remember when crossing roads, especially post mealtime.

2. Despite claims of China being very egalitarian in regards to women's rights, it is generally frowned upon for a woman to be seen drinking (or smoking) much if anything in public.