Mijiu

Mijiu (Chinese: 米酒; pinyin: mǐjiǔ; Wade–Giles: mi-chiu; lit. 'rice wine') is a Chinese rice wine made from glutinous rice.[1] It is generally clear in appearance with balanced sweetness and acidity, similar to its Japanese counterpart sake and Korean counterpart cheongju. The alcohol content ranges between 15% and 20%. Rice wine was made around or before 1000 BC in ancient China, and then the practice spread to Japan and other East Asian countries. Since then, it has played an important role in Chinese life. In most Chinese supermarkets there are various kinds of rice wines. It is a traditional beverage to the Chinese and some of the families still follow the custom of making rice wine by themselves. The rice wine is made using glutinous rice, Chinese yeast and water. It is also served as an aperitif and is believed to be beneficial in improving metabolism and skin.

Mijiu
Bottles of mijiu
TypeRice wine
Country of originChina
Region of originEast Asia
Alcohol by volume15%-20%
Proof (US)30-40
ColourClear
IngredientsGlutinous rice
Related productsHuangjiu, jiuniang, sake, cheongju

Mijiu is usually drunk warm, like the Japanese sake and Korean cheongju, and is also used in cooking. The cooking mijiu available in Asian grocery stores are generally of a lower quality, and often contain added salt to avoid an alcohol tax. Mijiu is produced in mainland China and Taiwan.

A type of baijiu called rice baijiu (Chinese: 米白酒; pinyin: mǐ báijiǔ) is distilled from mijiu.

An unfiltered form of Chinese rice wine containing whole glutinous rice grains of extremely low alcoholic content and often consumed by children is called jiǔniàng (酒酿) or láozāo (醪糟).

In Taiwan, the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation (Monopoly Bureau) is the main manufacturer, branded as Taiwan red label. The alcohol content is 19.5%.

Mijiu is commonly used in cooking dishes such as ginger duck, sesame oil chicken, and shochu chicken.[2]

Usage

The traditional way to use mijiu is to boil three bottles and evaporate the alcohol while cooking with the chicken. It is believed that by using this recipe one can help women's rehabilitation wound. Mijiu is also used in Jiuniang which is a dish that consists of the rice wine, rice particles, and sometimes glutinous rice balls. [3]

Dishes

Mijiu is used in Chinese desserts such as:

  • Eggs spoiled in rice wine
  • Sweet soup balls with rice wine
  • Rice wine with brown sugar
  • A bottle of Taiwanese cooking mijiu
  • A bottle of Taiwanese mijiu

See also

References
  1. Carlson, Gordon S. (1981). The Rice Journal. Volumes 84-87. p. 263.
  2. "紅標料理米酒". 台灣菸酒股份有限公司/Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation. 台灣菸酒股份有限公司/Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. 太元, 查. "台湾红标米酒与WTO那些事" (dfdaily.com). 查太元. dfdaily.com. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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