Maotai
Encyclopedia
Maotai, or Moutai , is a Chinese liquor
, or baijiu
.
It is produced in the town of Maotai (茅台镇), in the city of Renhuai
, Guizhou
province, Southwest China. It is believed that the town of Maotai possesses a unique climate and vegetation that contributes to the taste of the drink. Maotai, which is classified as "sauce-fragranced" (酱香, jiangxiang) because it offers an exceptionally pure, mild, and mellow soy sauce
-like fragrance that lingers after it is consumed, is distilled
from fermented
sorghum
and now comes in different versions ranging in alcohol content from the standard 53% by volume down to 35%.
(1644-1911), Maotai became the first Chinese liquor to be produced in large-scale production with an annual output of 170 tons. In 2007, more than 6,800 tons of Maotai were sold. Maotai is named after the town with the same name near Zunyi
in Renhuai
, Guizhou
Province, where winemaking has a very long history. The Maotai of today originated during the Qing Dynasty
and first won international fame when winning a gold medal at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco
. In addition, Maotai was also named a national liquor in 1951, two years after the founding of People's Republic of China. Maotai also claimed two gold medals separately at the Paris International Exposition in 1985 and 1986. Maotai has won 14 international awards and 20 domestic awards since the Chinese Revolution.
Maotai has been used on official occasions in feasts with foreign heads of state and distinguished guests visiting China. It is the only alcoholic beverage presented as an official gift by Chinese embassies in foreign countries and regions. It received additional exposure in China and abroad when Zhou Enlai
used the liquor to entertain Richard Nixon
during the state banquet for the U.S. presidential visit to China
in 1972. It is one of China's official state banquet wines and claims to be one of the world's three best known liquors (together with whisky
and cognac
) and is therefore presented to all official guests of state.
Maotai current sells over 200 tons of Maotai to over 100 countries and regions across the world.
In 2006, Maotai reported 5.3 billion yuan (about 688.3 million dollars) in sales volume, compared to about 4.2 billion yuan (about 538.46 million dollars) in 2005.
(V&S) claims that baijiu is the world's most popular spirit, with annual sales volume of 520 million 9-litre cases compared to vodka with 497 million 9-litre cases. In this article, Maotai is reported to rank second in terms of market share compared with other Baijiu brands. Nonetheless it is still the brand presented at State Banquets. The following is a list of baijiu brands with their respective market share.
Chinese wine
Jiu is the Chinese word that refers to all alcoholic beverages. This word has often been mistranslated into English as "wine"; the meaning is closer to "alcoholic beverage" or "liquor"...
, or baijiu
Baijiu
Baijiu , or shaojiu is a Chinese distilled alcoholic beverage. The name baijiu literally means "white liquor," "white alcohol" or "white spirits". Baijiu is often translated as "wine" or "white wine"...
.
It is produced in the town of Maotai (茅台镇), in the city of Renhuai
Renhuai
Renhuai is a city district of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of Zunyi city....
, Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
province, Southwest China. It is believed that the town of Maotai possesses a unique climate and vegetation that contributes to the taste of the drink. Maotai, which is classified as "sauce-fragranced" (酱香, jiangxiang) because it offers an exceptionally pure, mild, and mellow soy sauce
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
-like fragrance that lingers after it is consumed, is distilled
Distilled beverage
A distilled beverage, liquor, or spirit is an alcoholic beverage containing ethanol that is produced by distilling ethanol produced by means of fermenting grain, fruit, or vegetables...
from fermented
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
and now comes in different versions ranging in alcohol content from the standard 53% by volume down to 35%.
History
During the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
(1644-1911), Maotai became the first Chinese liquor to be produced in large-scale production with an annual output of 170 tons. In 2007, more than 6,800 tons of Maotai were sold. Maotai is named after the town with the same name near Zunyi
Zunyi
Zunyi is a prefecture-level city in Guizhou province in southwestern China. Along with Guiyang and Liupanshui, it is one of the most important cities of the province...
in Renhuai
Renhuai
Renhuai is a city district of Guizhou, China. It is under the administration of Zunyi city....
, Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
Province, where winemaking has a very long history. The Maotai of today originated during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
and first won international fame when winning a gold medal at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In addition, Maotai was also named a national liquor in 1951, two years after the founding of People's Republic of China. Maotai also claimed two gold medals separately at the Paris International Exposition in 1985 and 1986. Maotai has won 14 international awards and 20 domestic awards since the Chinese Revolution.
Maotai has been used on official occasions in feasts with foreign heads of state and distinguished guests visiting China. It is the only alcoholic beverage presented as an official gift by Chinese embassies in foreign countries and regions. It received additional exposure in China and abroad when Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
used the liquor to entertain Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
during the state banquet for the U.S. presidential visit to China
1972 Nixon visit to China
U.S. President Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to the People's Republic of China was an important step in formally normalizing relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China. It marked the first time a U.S. president had visited the PRC, who at that time considered the U.S. one...
in 1972. It is one of China's official state banquet wines and claims to be one of the world's three best known liquors (together with whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
and cognac
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
) and is therefore presented to all official guests of state.
Maotai current sells over 200 tons of Maotai to over 100 countries and regions across the world.
In 2006, Maotai reported 5.3 billion yuan (about 688.3 million dollars) in sales volume, compared to about 4.2 billion yuan (about 538.46 million dollars) in 2005.
Market share
According to an article named "Pouring a Big One" posted in the May 2008 edition of China Economic Review, Vin & SpritV&S Group
V&S Group , founded in 1917, is an international producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. The group is currently owned by Pernod Ricard...
(V&S) claims that baijiu is the world's most popular spirit, with annual sales volume of 520 million 9-litre cases compared to vodka with 497 million 9-litre cases. In this article, Maotai is reported to rank second in terms of market share compared with other Baijiu brands. Nonetheless it is still the brand presented at State Banquets. The following is a list of baijiu brands with their respective market share.
- Wuliangye (五粮液) 45%
- Kweichew Moutai (贵州茅台) 30%
- Guojiao 1573 (国窖 1573) or National Cellar 1573 10%
- Shuijingfang (水井坊) 10%
- Others 5%
See also
- BaijiuBaijiuBaijiu , or shaojiu is a Chinese distilled alcoholic beverage. The name baijiu literally means "white liquor," "white alcohol" or "white spirits". Baijiu is often translated as "wine" or "white wine"...
- Chinese wineChinese wineJiu is the Chinese word that refers to all alcoholic beverages. This word has often been mistranslated into English as "wine"; the meaning is closer to "alcoholic beverage" or "liquor"...
- KaoliangKaoliangKaoliang jiu is a strong distilled liquor, made from fermented sorghum . It is made and sold in both mainland China and Taiwan, and also popular in Korea, where it is called goryangju...
- ZunyiZunyiZunyi is a prefecture-level city in Guizhou province in southwestern China. Along with Guiyang and Liupanshui, it is one of the most important cities of the province...