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{{#seo:
|title=Erguotou (二锅头 Beijing Light-Aroma Baijiu) - Chinese Food Wiki
|keywords=Erguotou,二锅头,二鍋頭,Er Guo Tou,Beijing baijiu,Red Star Erguotou,红星二锅头,Niulanshan,牛栏山,light aroma baijiu,清香型白酒
|description=Erguotou (二锅头, "head of the second pot") is Beijing's everyday light-aroma baijiu, distilled from sorghum; its name comes from collecting only the spirit condensed by the second change of cooling water in a traditional still.
}}

{{Infobox chinese food
| image = Erguotou.jpg
| caption = A small bottle of Beijing erguotou
| alternate_name = 二锅头; 二鍋頭; Er Guo Tou; Beijing erguotou; Red Star (红星) and Niulanshan (牛栏山) are major brands
| pinyin = Èrguōtóu
| type = Baijiu (distilled sorghum spirit), light aroma (清香); typically about 42–56% alcohol
| course = Beverage
| country = China
| region = [[Beijing Food|Beijing]] and surrounding areas
| other = A style made by many distilleries, not a single brand; technique on the national intangible cultural heritage list (2008)
}}

'''Erguotou''' (Simplified Chinese: 二锅头; Traditional Chinese: 二鍋頭; Pinyin: ''Èrguōtóu''; literally "head of the second pot") is a style of [[Baijiu]] from [[Beijing Food|Beijing]]. It belongs to the '''light-aroma''' (清香) family, like [[Fenjiu]], and is the city's most familiar everyday spirit, sold in everything from small pocket bottles to formal gift packs. Well-known producers include Beijing Red Star (红星) and Niulanshan (牛栏山).<ref name="wp">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erguotou English Wikipedia: Erguotou]</ref>

== Origin and name ==

Distilled liquor has been made in Beijing since at least the Jin and Yuan dynasties, when the city was a capital. The erguotou method is traditionally dated to the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty, around 1680, and credited to distillers of the Yuanshenghao (源升号) workshop.<ref name="ich">[https://www.ihchina.cn/project_details/14585.html China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network: 蒸馏酒传统酿造技艺（北京二锅头酒传统酿造技艺）]</ref> In the old stills a pot of cold water sat on top to condense the vapour, and the water was changed three times during a run. The spirit collected with the first and third pots of water was set aside because its flavour was harsher, and only the spirit from the '''second pot''' was kept — hence the name.<ref name="zh">[https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/二锅头 Chinese Wikipedia: 二锅头]</ref> In 1949 a number of Beijing distilleries were combined into the Red Star distillery, whose erguotou became a nationally known label.<ref name="wp" />

== Raw materials ==

* '''Sorghum''' as the main grain (some producers add other grains)
* '''Qu''' — commonly a wheat-bran ''fuqu'' (麸曲) and/or ''daqu''
* '''Water'''

Overview only — not a recipe.

== Production (overview) ==

Compared with premium baijiu, erguotou uses a relatively short fermentation, often in stone or steel vessels, followed by distillation that keeps only the middle, cleanest part of the run ("pinching the head and cutting the tail"). The spirit is rested for a comparatively short time before blending and bottling. This yields fewer esters and a lighter, cleaner aroma.<ref name="wp" /> Beijing erguotou brewing technique was added to China's national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008.<ref name="ich" />

== Style and taste ==

Erguotou is clear, sharp and dry, with a clean grain aroma and less fruitiness than strong-aroma spirits. Classic bottlings are strong (56% is traditional), though lower-strength versions are widespread.<ref name="zh" />

== Culture ==

Erguotou is closely tied to Beijing street life: it is the spirit most often seen at neighbourhood restaurants, with [[Instant-boiled Mutton|shuan yangrou]] hot pot, roast meats and home cooking. Because it is inexpensive and widely available, it is the spirit many Beijingers think of first when baijiu is mentioned. It is also well known among northern Chinese communities overseas.<ref name="zh" />

== Notes ==

* "Erguotou" is a production style and generic name; many companies in and outside Beijing sell spirits labelled erguotou.
* This page does not give prices or buying advice.

== See also ==

* [[Chinese Alcohol]]
* [[Baijiu]]
* [[Beijing Food]]
* [[Fenjiu]]
* [[Kinmen Kaoliang]]
* [[Chinese Drink]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Erguotou - Revision history

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