How to Drink Baijiu: Glasses, Toasts and Temperature

Baijiu is not a shot and not a whisky. It has its own rituals, its own glasses and its own way of tasting. Here is how to drink it the Chinese way, and how to taste it properly.

The Chinese way

Baijiu is traditionally served neat and at room temperature, in tiny glasses that hold just a few sips. It is drunk with food, never on an empty stomach, and never alone: every sip is a toast to someone at the table.

When your host says 干杯 (gānbēi), "dry the cup", tradition says you finish your glass. If they say 随意 (suíyì), "as you like", a sip is enough. You can always say 随意 yourself: a good host will respect it.

The table rules

• The host gives the first toast. Wait for it before drinking.
• When you toast someone older or more senior, hold your glass with both hands and touch glasses with your rim slightly lower than theirs.
• Pour for others before yourself, and keep your neighbours' glasses filled.
• Do not drink alone between toasts: raise your glass to someone first.

How to taste it

Baijiu is intensely aromatic, so taste it the way a professional would:

1. **Look.** Good baijiu is perfectly clear. Swirl the glass and watch the spirit cling to the sides. 2. **Smell from a distance.** Hold the glass a little below your nose first, then move closer. The aromas are powerful. 3. **Take a very small sip.** Let it cover your tongue, then breathe out gently through your nose. The aromas unfold after the first heat. 4. **Wait.** Notice how long the flavour lasts. In sauce aroma, it can last for minutes. 5. **Smell the empty glass.** When the glass is empty, smell it again. The aroma that remains, 空杯留香 (kōngbēi liúxiāng), "fragrance in the empty cup", is considered a sign of quality.

Temperature

Room temperature is the rule. Never serve baijiu from the freezer: cold hides its aromas, which are the whole point. In northern China, some drinkers used to warm it gently in winter, but today it is almost always served as it is.

Glasses

Tiny tulip-shaped glasses, holding about 10–15 ml, are ideal. A small wine or spirits tasting glass works well at home. Avoid large tumblers and ice when you want to taste the spirit itself. For long banquets, a small decanter (分酒器, fēnjiǔqì) is used to pour into each glass.

Pace yourself

Most baijiu is above 50% alcohol. Sip slowly, eat between toasts, drink water alongside, and never drive. There is no shame in saying 随意.

In one sentence

Neat, at room temperature, in tiny glasses, with food and with a toast: that is how baijiu is meant to be enjoyed.