Maling Yellow Wine

Maling Yellow Wine

　　Maling Yellow Wine is a historic and renowned traditional Han Chinese liquor. The *Qingyang County Annals* record: “In November, on the Winter Solstice Festival, ancestors are honored. Water is drawn and frozen to make Chunfen Wine.” It also states: “On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, water is drawn on this day to brew wine, called La Wine.” Whether it’s “Chunfen Wine” or “La Wine,” both are types of yellow wine. Yellow wine is generally brewed in winter, especially before the Spring Festival, when almost every household makes it. However, the quality of yellow wine varies across the county, with that from Maling being the best. The production area of Maling Yellow Wine centers around Maling Town in Qingcheng County, extending southward to Fucheng and northward to Quzi Town in Huan County. The yellow wine produced in this region is particularly strong (high in alcohol content), with some varieties even flammable and capable of long-term storage like baijiu (Chinese liquor). In the winter of 1984, someone bottled homemade Maling yellow wine in empty bottles, and it has been preserved until now—20 years later, its flavor remains robust, which can be considered a miracle.

　　Maling Yellow Wine boasts a bright, amber-like color; its taste is bitter yet sweet, with a balanced sweetness and acidity; it combines astringency and spiciness with a rich aroma; it is mellow, refreshing, and has a long-lasting aftertaste.

　　Maling Yellow Wine is not only delicious but also offers benefits such as relaxing muscles and improving circulation, clearing the heart and resolving blood stasis, dispelling wind and cold, and nourishing the skin. Yellow wine should be heated before drinking, as cold consumption can be harmful. The best way to heat it is with a clay pot to preserve its original flavor. Be cautious when drinking Maling Yellow Wine—don’t overindulge, as it can easily lead to intoxication. The effects of this wine can take a while to wear off.

　　Someone once composed a poem for Maling Yellow Wine:

　　I offer you a cup of Maling wine,

　　North and south travelers pause again and again;