China's national drink released to a thirsty US market

[dArKeR]

AP , SHANGHAI, CHINA
Sunday, Apr 04, 2004,Page 5

Stand aside, Smirnoff. Keep on walking, Johnnie. Erguotou, China's fiery national spirit, is on its way to America.

Six hundred bottles of a superior blend of the clear liquor native to Beijing will be shipped to a Los Angeles-based agent next week, according to Zhang Jian, a member of the international trade department of distiller Red Star Holding.

That follows successful sales of a test shipment of Superior Erguotou in the US at Christmas, Zhang said. The company also sells its less expensive ordinary Erguotou in the US and other foreign countries, most of which is bought by Chinese restaurants and grocery stores, she said.

Zhang wouldn't give the name of the US distributor, and news reports said company officials were keeping it a secret.

Erguotou, whose name translates roughly as "twice-distilled spirits," is the best known of thousands of brands of Chinese sorghum spirit known as baijiu, or white liquor.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/04/04/2003116620

Move over Budwiser. Here comes the Commi drink.

[Old and In the Way]

1. baijiu............bad stuff!

I can't believe it will catch on here. That stuff is gawd-awful. Still, it's better than snake wine....

[On the Road]

2. Man, Those Chinese Go to Town on New Years'

I was the only caucasian at a Chinese New Years' party this year in Columbia MD with 30-40 people, including children. It was potluck, with dozens of contributions. After eating, the men sat around in the living and started drinking shots of clear liquor.

And I mean drinking. One guy got sick and had to go home. They kept pushing each other to have one more shot. I held back a little and took awhile to finish each shot. Some of the wives' came in and started yelling at their husbands (not too seriously) for getting loaded. Apparently it was pretty typical.

Overall it was great fun.