Alcoholic drinks in China the White Snake as the substance which forces the snake to reveal her true form. The drink was thought to prevent disease and misfortune (particularly snake bites and digestive worms) and to promote health; although modern Chinese authorities discourage the practice, it is still legally available for consumption. Alcoholic drinks in China Alcoholic drinks in China seem to precede the earliest stages of Chinese civilization. They include rice and grape wine, beer, and various liquors including "baijiu", the most-consumed distilled spirit in the world. ("jiǔ") is the Chinese character referring to any drink containing appreciable quantities of ethanol. Its Old
Korean alcoholic drinks A regional, slightly-creamier variant, originally from Gyeonggi-do, is called "dongdongju". Another variety, called "ihwaju" (hangul: ; hanja: ; "pear-blossom wine") is so named because it is brewed from rice with rice malt which ferments during the pear-blossom season. "Ihwaju" is often so thick that it is eaten with a spoon. A similar drink is known as "Gamju"; this name is also used for non-alcoholic sweet drinks, including "Sikhye" (). "Cheongju", or "yakju", is a refined rice wine made from steamed rice which has undergone several fermentation stages. Also known as "myeongyakju" or "beopju", it is distinguished from "takju" by its