Huanggu Thick Rice Wine (Choujiu) (黄桂稠酒)

Why it is worth considering

Huanggu choujiu (黄桂稠酒) is Xi'an's own fermented drink — sweet glutinous rice wine, milky and fragrant, with a history tracing to the Tang dynasty. Li Bai himself was said to love this style of wine, and the modern writer Guo Moruo praised it as 'not like wine, better than wine.'

The catch is the one locals joke about: 'choujiu is good to drink, but it cannot leave Tongguan' — fresh choujiu keeps fermenting and spoils. For travelers, the answer is sealed commercial bottles, which are stable enough to fly home in checked baggage. Sweet, low-proof, and unlike anything most visitors have tasted.

Before you buy, check

• Buy sealed bottles from reputable shops or supermarkets — fresh choujiu spoils quickly, so sealed commercial bottles are the travel-safe choice.
• Check the alcohol content on the label (typically 10–15%) so you know what you are carrying.
• Smell before buying if served fresh: good choujiu is sweet and fragrant, never sour or off.
• Confirm the bottle is tightly sealed and leak-proof before packing.

Good to know

• LIQUID: must go in checked baggage, never hand luggage. Wrap the bottle well and seal in a plastic bag against leaks.
• Fresh choujiu does not keep — 'good to drink, but it cannot leave Tongguan' is the local saying. Buy sealed bottles for travel.
• We have not verified current shelf prices — confirm at the counter before paying.
• Check your country's alcohol import limit before buying multiple bottles.