Huangjiu

Huangjiu, translated as yellow wine, is a type of Chinese alcoholic beverage made from water, cereal grains such as rice, sorghum, millet, or wheat and a jiuqu starter culture. Unlike baijiu, such liquors are not distilled and contain less than 20% alcohol. Huangjiu is usually pasteurized, aged, and filtered before their final bottling for sale to consumers. Some styles are aged for as much as 3 years and sold as premium products. The various styles of huangjiu may vary in color from clear to beige, yellowish-brown, or reddish-brown. Many famous Huangjiu brands are noted for the quality of water involved in the brewing process and some consider it to be the most important ingredient.