Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice

Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice

Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice is a protected geographical indication product.

　　 Fermented glutinous rice, also known as sweet rice wine, is made by steaming high-quality glutinous rice, cooling it, and then mixing it with fermentation starter before fermenting. It has a unique flavor—mellow, fragrant, and slightly sweet—and offers health benefits such as invigorating qi and blood circulation, nourishing yin and kidney, and quenching thirst while being easy to prepare. Among these, Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice, located just 3 kilometers from Dazhu County, stands out for its delicious taste and exquisite craftsmanship, making it a top-quality and superior brew among fermented glutinous rice.

　　As early as during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, it had already gained widespread fame and renown both within and beyond Sichuan. Anyone passing through Dazhu would make a point to taste it, using it to refresh their palate and soothe their stomach and intestines. In the mid-1950s, several private fermented glutinous rice shops in Dongliu joined forces to form the Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice Cooperative Group, expanding production and sales, yet still unable to meet consumer demand. In 1979, the Dazhu Supply and Marketing Cooperative established a fermented glutinous rice factory, which later partnered with the grain department to continuously improve production techniques, producing 150,000 jin (approximately 75 metric tons) of glutinous rice fermented glutinous rice annually for the market. In 1983, the product was honored as a Quality Product of the Sichuan Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative System. In 1984, with approval from the Daxian Regional Bureau of Standards and Metrology and the Regional Supply and Marketing Cooperative, the "Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice Enterprise Standard" was formulated and issued. At the same time, it was included in the "Chinese Special Local Products Dictionary," gaining fame both domestically and internationally.

　　 With the growing reputation and market share of Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice, canned and bottled varieties were developed across the county. Successively, the Dazhu Food Canning Factory and Sichuan Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice Co., Ltd. were established, inheriting and improving traditional recipes while adopting modern production techniques. They produce canned and glass-bottled fermented glutinous rice, with an annual production capacity of up to 6,000 tons. Their attractively packaged and portable products have become especially popular with consumers. In particular, Sichuan Dongliu Fermented Glutinous Rice Co., Ltd., building on its original "Eastern Han Brand" original juice-style fermented glutinous rice, developed health-focused, beverage-style, and other variations including the "Eastern Han Brand" Niangniang Niang (Imperial Concubine Brew), Nü’er Chun (Daughter Spring), and "Eastern Han Brand" Yuanxiao Powder. This resulted in a product series of 4 varieties and over 20 specifications, with a production capacity of more than 4,400 tons. The products are sold across more than 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xining, Shanxi, Nanjing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Inner Mongolia, and Urumqi. The products have successively won awards such as the Ministry of Agriculture’s Quality Product title, First Prize for Technological Progress, the Gold Award at the Sichuan Bashu Food Festival, approval to use the China Green Food Development Center’s Green Food label, and recognition as an official product of the Chinese Olympic delegation at the 26th Olympic Games.

　　In 1995, the product was showcased at the grand gathering held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the founding of the China Culture Promotion Society and the establishment of its Cultural Health Committee. It was designated as the official food for the event. After tasting it, attending delegates spoke highly of it, and former national leaders, veteran revolutionaries, and well-known public figures such as Xu Guangyi, Wei Chuantong, Yang Chengwu, Cheng Siyuan, Ma Wenrui, Chen Xilian, Wang Zhaohua, Zhang Xiu, Li Peiyao, Liao Hansheng, Tömür, Dawamaiti, Shao Hua, and Zhao Ziyue left their signatures in commemoration. Wei Chuantong inscribed: “Eastern Han Fermented Glutinous Rice’s Fame Spans Ancient and Modern Times,” and the former Secretary-General of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, during an inspection visit to the company, wrote: “The Finest Fermented Glutinous Rice, the Essence of Food.” In 1998, it was named a Mass-Favorite Commodity by the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Technical Supervision and recognized as a Designated Producer of Sichuan Tourism Commodities by the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Bureau. In 1999, it was awarded the title of Sichuan Famous-Brand Product by the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government. (Dazhu County)