The Death Of Baijiu
More than a liquid, Baijiu bridges gaps few other tonics can in the East
Here’s the thing, not everyone in China drinks alcohol. According to recent studies, alcohol consumption in China has grown 70% since 1990, and it still lags far behind some of the champions of the fuzzy liquid like the Czech Republic or the Moldovanians (is this right?). But if you step foot in China, specifically the rural regions, it is hard to believe that not everyone takes a swig of the good ole Baijiu on a daily basis.
Baijiu, otherwise known as rice wine or white wine in China is often described as a paint thinner in the west. It is comparable to that of rubbing alcohol mixed with a strong aura of nail polish if you browse the reddit forums of expats who’ve visited China once or twice. In my hometown of Zheng Zhou, Henan though, Baijiu is a way of life. In fact, in most northern states in China (the Dongbei’s, Shandong’s of the world), Baijiu acts as an olive branch — one extended to visitors, acquaintances and delegates. There is something fundamental about Baijiu and its relationship with “old” China, the one which is slowly but surely disappearing.
