+12 votes
I am planning a weeknight dinner with a Chinese theme. I need to know what alcohol is traditionaly consumed there to stay within my budget. It should be explained clearly for my shooping list.
in Drinks by

6 Answers

+10 votes
For a budget-friendly Chinese dinner, you can easily find Tsingtao beer at regular supermarkets, which is the most common and traditional style of beer consumed in China. If you want something traditional for toasts, look for baijiu, though it is a very strong grain liquor. Rice wine is another authentic option that works well for both cooking and casual drinking during the meal.
by
+5 votes
When planning a budget-friendly Chinese-themed weeknight dinner, the most traditional alcoholic beverages consumed in China are baijiu, rice wine (huangjiu), and Chinese beer. Baijiu is a strong grain spirit that is central to many celebrations, though it can be quite potent and might exceed a casual budget or taste preference for some guests. For a simple grocery store run, standard Chinese lagers like Tsingtao are widely available, affordable, and pair wonderfully with a variety of dishes. Additionally, you can look for inexpensive cooking or drinking rice wines in the Asian aisle to keep things authentic yet economical.
by chef (91.1k points)
+3 votes
If you want to keep your dinner theme legit without breaking the bank, you NEED to pick up some Tsingtao beer at your local grocery store!!! It is super affordable and totally authentic for a weeknight meal... Baijiu is the classic hard liquor there, but honestly it can get pricey and super strong, so stick to beer or cheap rice wine!!
by
+2 votes
When we used to gather for family dinners back home, someone always brought a bottle of strong grain spirit or light beer to share with the meal Finding something budget-friendly at your local supermarket is pretty easy since Chinese lagers like Tsingtao are everywhere now 😊 Just make sure to check the International aisle for rice wine options that won't break your bank!
by
+1 vote
In the old days we just drank cheap rice wine or local beer with dinner
No need for fancy expensive bottles. Just grab whatever is on discount at the shop.
by
0 votes
just grab some tsingtao beer from the store, its cheap and goes great with dinner! baijiu is the main drink over there but it costs way too much usually :/
by