What is the primary ingredient in Baijiu?

Baijiu, a traditional Chinese distilled spirit, primarily uses sorghum as its main ingredient. This grain is favored for its high starch content, which is essential for fermentation and subsequent distillation processes. Sorghum offers a unique flavor profile that is characteristic of Baijiu, contributing to its rich complexity and diverse taste variations depending on the production methods and regional styles.

While barley, rice, and millet are also grains used in various alcoholic beverages, they do not form the basis of Baijiu production. Barley is more commonly associated with beer and Scotch whisky, rice is essential in the production of sake and some other Asian spirits, and millet may be used in certain regional liquors but not predominantly in Baijiu. Thus, sorghum stands out as the key component in the crafting of this unique spirit.