Dongwang Liquor

Dongwang Liquor

　　Dongwang Liquor is a specialty of Tongdao County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Made from high-quality glutinous rice, it is brewed based on the traditional Dong people’s bitter wine, combined with modern scientific production techniques. Rich in nutrients, it contains 18 types of amino acids, vitamins, and wolfberry polysaccharides. It is a fine brew long cherished by the Dong people for “enhancing complexion” and “nourishing the body.”

　　The history of drinking in Tongdao spans over 2,500 years. The Dong people have always been known for their love of wine, with a strong drinking culture where no song flies without wine and no gathering is complete without it. Especially during festivals, every household offers their homemade bitter wine to welcome guests from afar, drinking from big bowls and dancing together in song. According to the Book of Wei, Dongwang Liquor originated from the “Baiyue Dongliao” during the Chu King era of the Eastern Zhou and Warring States periods. Due to the region’s unique geography, the Dong people favored glutinous rice and brewed wine from mountain spring water, offering it to ancient emperors to pray for peace. This wine was called Kou Wine, commonly known as bitter wine. Dongwang Liquor was the premium drink exclusively reserved for Dong tribal leaders.

　　The reason Dongwang Liquor possesses its unique and unparalleled quality, earning it the title of the finest Dong liquor, lies not only in the beautiful natural environment of the Dong villages—lush mountains and clear waters—but also in the inheritance of a brewing tradition that spans over a thousand years. Coupled with the use of folk secret recipes and the integration of the strengths of contemporary distillers, these four elements combine seamlessly to create a naturally exquisite spirit.

　　Rongpa Bai is a high-quality glutinous rice native to the Dong region. With a crystal-clear sheen, it grows in fertile fields with high mountains, cold water, and year-round waterlogged silt. It serves both as a staple food for the Dong people and as the main ingredient for brewing Dongwang Liquor. Tongdao is mostly mountainous, with forest coverage exceeding 95%. The inexhaustible mountain spring water is perfect for soaking and washing the glutinous rice. After washing, the Rongpa Bai glutinous rice is evenly mixed with sorghum. The key to steaming lies in achieving a cooked but not mushy texture, no white core inside, translucent yet not overdone, and uniformly ripe. However, the real secret lies in the yeast—“yeast is the backbone of the liquor.” If the backbone is not right, how can the flavor be? After repeated trials and continuous improvements, the brewers of Dongwang Liquor finally discovered their unique yeast strain. By mixing the steamed Rongpa Bai glutinous rice with the specially made yeast, the magical life journey of Dongwang Liquor begins...

　　Throughout the entire brewing process, the makers of Dongwang Liquor follow the philosophy of harmony between heaven and humanity, and the balance of yin and yang. The yeast is trodden on during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the grains are added during the Double Ninth Festival. During fermentation, the process starts slow, then intensifies, and finally slows down again. Over the course of a full year-long production cycle, there are six rounds of steaming, seven additions of yeast, eight fermentations in pits, and nine distillations. After three years of aging, the result is a fine liquor with a mellow, pure taste, deep and fragrant aroma, and a long-lasting aftertaste.

　　Hunan Dongwang Liquor Co., Ltd., the producer of this magical brew, is located in the suburbs of Tongdao County. Today, Dongwang Liquor has earned praise from wine enthusiasts around the world for its traditional brewing techniques and superior quality. It has become a calling card for Tongdao, connecting the region to the rest of China and the world. It has been recognized by Hunan Province as the most popular brand in the food industry and specialty agriculture, and has won multiple gold awards at international expositions.