Quyang Jujube Wine (a specialty of Quyang, Hebei)

The basic introduction of Quyang jujube wine

The hardest product in Quyang is jujube wine. Don't believe it, there is a poem to prove it: one cup and two cups don't get drunk, three cups and four cups walk against the wall, five cups and six cups walk against the wall, I won't leave. In Quyang, jujube wine has nurtured generations of heroic and tough men, which can be confirmed by Quyang's idiomatic expression: What's wrong? What a shame

(1) It contains 17 types of amino acids (7 essential for the human body), and has high levels of trace elements zinc and iodine in minerals. It is also rich in vitamins (vitamin C in fruits can reach 380-600 milligrams/100 grams), hence it is called "natural vitamin pills". Therefore, jujube wine is a nourishing and fitness drink

Jujube wine does not specify its alcohol content. Generally, "a few parts of water" is used as a substitute for alcohol content. The more water one drinks, the higher the alcohol content and the better the quality of the wine

Eating half water is about 60 degrees Celsius

Eating three tenths of water is about 70 degrees

There is no concrete evidence of when jujube wine was first brewed. According to historical records, during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Grand Secretary of the Jin Dynasty, Gu Gu (recorded in the Qing Dynasty's "Xingtang County Annals" as "Gu talked about ritual and music, wrote poetry and books, learned the way to govern the army, and sent officials to the army in Gu"), was implicated in the murder of his father Rui and exiled as a commoner. He lived in seclusion in his hometown of Chengze (now Chengzhai Township) and worked on the banks of the Ganquan River

One time, he accidentally discovered a puddle filled with dates, emitting a rich and fragrant aroma. He held it in his hand and tasted the delicious taste. After drinking it all, he felt dizzy and drowsy. Later, Gu was repurposed and fought in the Zhongshan Kingdom (now the Lingshou area), capturing the leader of the Bai Di (Xianyu) people and ordering them to brew this mellow and intoxicating jujube fruit wine. After the wine was brewed, it was presented as a tribute to Duke Cheng of Jin, who was delighted to drink it and named it "Zhongshan Golden Wine". Gu was appointed as a minister and was in charge of national affairs. It is difficult to verify whether this statement is accurate, but it is a fact that jujube wine was already brewed at that time

The production method of Quyang jujube wine

Soaking jujube

Pour the jujube into a large pool and soak it in water until soft. Crush the bran or corn stalks, then put the jujube into a grinder to grind it into a paste, and finally mix it with bran or straw in a blender

Fermentation

Mix and stir according to the ratio of three thousand pounds of dates, six baskets of straw or bran (an appropriate amount of yeast should be added in the first cellar), put the jujube bran mixture into a square pit, cover it with plastic cloth, and then cover it with bran (for insulation). Insert a long corn straw from the top to the bottom of the pit (equivalent to a thermometer)