Chinese spirit, also known as Baijiu or sorghum wine, is a Chinese alcoholic beverage made from grain. Baijiu literally means “white (clear) alcohol” or liquor, and is a strong distilled spirit, generally between 40 and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Baijiu is a clear liquid usually distilled from fermented sorghum, although other grains may be used; southern China versions may employ glutinous rice, while northern Chinese varieties may use wheat, barley, millet, or even Job’s tears instead of sorghum. The jiuqu starter culture used in the production of baijiu mash is usually made of pulverized wheat grains.
Because of its clarity, Baijiu can appear similar to several other East Asian liquors, but it generally has a significantly higher alcohol content than, for example, Japanese Shochu (25%) or Korean Soju (20–45%). It is closer to vodka in strength and mouth-feel