Drink
Below are some samples of beverages that are consumed by locals from in this region. We will not only experience these, we will learn how they are made and discuss them often at meals.
Baijiu is one of the most widely consumed spirits
in the world. This little know spirit in the West is made up of fragrance and punch that will knock your socks off.
Shenyang's own "QiShui". This is a fruit flavored soda that is beloved by the locals. They come in different flavors like pear, cherry, apple, and more. These refreshing sodas have a purpose with the Korean and heavy flavored foods that are consumed in this region.
Although Shenyang is not known for tea, the locals do consume their fair share of it. We cover the six main varieties of Chinese tea in this trip and drink a lot of it too!
Snow Beer is the most consumed beer, by volume, in the world. It is because this low ABV beer is made to drink in gulps and not slowly. It is made of adjuncts and similar to an American light lager.
The famous "Lao Xue Hua" or Old Snow Beer that is brewed only for the Shenyang population. It is cheaper than water at 40cents a bottle. :-)
Two more Korean greats! Soju, to the left, is a Korean distilled beverage that is enjoyed alongside Korean BBQ and other dishes. It cleans the palate and uses a special fermentation medium to impart that special flavor.
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To the right is Makgoelli. This "rice beer" is usually around 6% abv and paired well with various dishes. The lactic, almost yoghurt, flavors along with the hint of alcohol is a wonderful addition to cut the braised, fatty, and other textures in Korean cuisine.
Another highlight is spending a day at Sun Valley Winery and tasting some of their delicious ice wines. Since this region gets very cold, ice wine was a perfect fit and this company has been producing great products for many decades.
