Chinese vodka. Chinese rice vodka. Maotai - Chinese vodka

Maotai is Chinese vodka made from rice malt, crushed grain and rice. It has a characteristic smell and a yellowish color. In China, the Maotai is the most famous alcoholic beverage. Its name was given in honor of the village of Maotai in Guizhou Province, where its production is established.

Recipe

Chinese vodka, made from rice shanlan, is known all over the world. Initially, the recipe for its preparation was the property of the Li people. Maotai is prepared from sticky early rice shanlan, which is specially grown in the vicinity of the village. Rice is ground into a powder, then yeast is added to it. The fermentation of the drink occurs at a high temperature, which distinguishes this type of alcohol from other types of vodka produced at low or medium temperature readings of the thermometer.

Crushed and whole grains are mixed in the required proportion and added in two meals to boilers filled with a mixture of rice and yeast. Within a month the product is fermented, then distillation is carried out. The procedure is repeated eight times, after which the received drink is put in the basement and maintained for three years. After that, the ripe young Maotai is mixed with older drinks, waiting for their turn in the storerooms. This is done to minimize the difference in tastes between different batches of vodka. If the Maotai is cooked by all the rules, then we get 53-degree Chinese vodka with an unusual taste, pleasant aroma and exquisite softness.

National treasure

No serious event in China can not do without this alcoholic beverage. It became an almost mandatory element at official government meetings in Beijing and at presentations in other countries. Until quite recently, Chinese rice vodka was considered an elite drink, inaccessible to mere mortals. However, now it has appeared in free sale and it is used often, especially on solemn occasions: at weddings, holidays, banquets. Despite the fact that the price for this alcoholic drink is consistently high, Maotai enjoys an increased demand.

At present, Chinese bread vodka began to appear on the tables of ordinary inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, the abundance of which allows you to sometimes enjoy this wonderful drink.

Uniqueness

As the main constituent in the production of vodka high quality kaolin is used - a variety of sorghum. Gaoliang is resistant to cold and early maturity. The leaven, on which Chinese vodka is made, is made from wheat, and water is extracted from the purest local sources. The process of preparing an alcoholic beverage also has no analogues in the world. Eight-time distillation, followed by fermentation, each lasting about a month, makes the vodka production process very laborious and laborious. At each subsequent stage of manufacturing a new ferment is added to the beverage.

The production of each batch of vodka takes at least eight months. Maotai is sold after three years of aging. It turns out to be extraordinarily pure. Despite its exceptional strength, the drink does not strike the head, does not burn mucous and does not upset the stomach.

History

From time immemorial, Chinese vodka, whose name coincides with the name of the village in which it is produced, was the favorite drink of China's creative people. There is an opinion that many outstanding minds of the Heavenly Empire drew inspiration from this alcoholic beverage. The village of Maotai enjoyed the attention of many great people of various dynasties, about which songs and legends were composed.

More than 2000-year history has the Maotai. It is believed that the prototype of the famous vodka - jiujiang - began to be produced back in 135 AD. In 1704 the name "Maotai" appeared. In the early 20th century, towards the end of the Qing Dynasty, the productivity of factories producing this unique beverage amounted to approximately 170 tons per year. By combining the three largest distilleries of China in 1951, the state concern Maotai appeared. This event was the beginning of the modern history of the production of Chinese rice vodka.

Homeland of vodka

Selenie Maotai enjoys the reputation of a unique place with a favorable climate and very high quality water. It is called the birthplace of vodka. Of the seven thousand inhabitants of this town-type settlement, half is engaged in the production of a famous alcoholic beverage. In other localities, they also tried to make Maotai. However, it turned out that the secret of its unique quality lies in a special combination of the temperature regime, the humid climate and fertile soil that exists only in the vicinity of the Maotai village. Excessive mechanization of production of this type of alcohol will lead to the fact that Chinese rice vodka will lose its traditional unique taste.

There is a legend according to which such a strong alcoholic drink in China was invented far from accident. The fact is that the local industrious rice growers worked in very harsh conditions: in any weather, despite the mud and damp, went out into the field. In order to keep warm and come to, the peasants in different parts of the country used baking hard liquor. In the north of China, they made "bigots" from the kaoliang. And in the Maotai invented the world-famous product.

Drink of Chinese diplomats

Maotai is Chinese vodka, which is one of the three most famous alcoholic beverages in the world. It was used by the statesmen of the Middle Kingdom - Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Mao Zedong. At solemn events this alcoholic drink is treated to the leaders of the states. The Chinese leadership has always highly appreciated the Maotai as a national asset and an instrument through which important political tasks were resolved. Chinese vodka is included in the list of gifts that diplomats present to leaders of other countries. In addition, Maotai is actively exported abroad and has the highest rate of foreign exchange exports in comparison with other Chinese alcoholic beverages.

Awards and Prizes

In 1915, this unique product was presented by the three largest manufacturers to the visitors of the Pacific International Exhibition-Fair in Panama. According to the legend, during the event several bottles of alcohol were unexpectedly broken. Spread around the fragrance conquered those present, resulting in the Maotai received the highest award.

International Food Exhibition in Paris in 1985 and in 1986. Brought to this unique product two gold medals. After that, the whole world learned the name of Chinese vodka. In total, at various international exhibitions, the Maotai alcoholic drink won fourteen gold medals.

Maotai in Russia

In 2010, the producers of Maotai vodka entered the Russian market. The traditional elite alcoholic beverage, familiar to the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, causes ambiguous impressions in the Russian consumer. On the one hand, strong Chinese vodka - 56 degrees - does not cause a hangover and is of good quality. On the other hand, it has a very high price, a specific flavor and taste, which not all Russians can appreciate.

In addition, despite all its refinement, the Maotai has an exceptional fortress. According to some buyers, a strong intoxication from him comes instantly, so use it carefully, sensitively listening to the reactions of the body.

It is known that the shares of the manufacturer "Guizhou Maotai" (Guizhou Maotai) significantly increased in price after the Central Television of China showed the story in which President Vladimir Putin in 2014, January 17, during a press conference in Sochi twice Spoke positively about the famous Chinese vodka.

Drink with a snake

In China, a lot of alcoholic beverages are produced, sometimes very exotic. One of them is Chinese vodka with a snake. Producers say that it is not just an alcoholic beverage, but a curative tincture that improves the health and well-being of any person. Usually this vodka consists of plants, medicinal herbs and ... snakes. It is attributed to medicinal properties. It is believed that it improves potency, increases vitality, promotes the treatment of arthrosis and arthritis, strengthens immunity, stabilizes the activity of the brain - you can enumerate endlessly. So it or not, difficult to say. According to some consumers, this alcoholic beverage stands out only for its unusual kind. It tastes little different from traditional Russian vodka.

Conclusion

According to one poet of the Middle Kingdom, three hundred glasses of wine can save him from a thousand years of sadness. If this man had tasted the Maotai, he would have had enough cups. It is no accident that this alcoholic drink is considered the king of all Chinese vodkas. How much it corresponds to the tastes of Russian consumers, it is impossible to say. Chinese rice vodka, made according to a traditional recipe with observance of all necessary conditions, is a magnificent gift to any celebration. Try it will be interesting to every connoisseur of elite alcoholic products.