Seeking a Chinese booze (preferably near Louisville, KY)
August 14, 2013 1:00 PM Subscribe
Inspired by this question, I have a Chinese mystery-spirit question of my own. I got this potable years ago at a Ranch 99 Supermarket, and find it pretty interesting, but I'm running out. Does it have a more conventional name than "ng-ka-py", and can I get it here, in the middle of the country?
I know that there are many different types of Chinese alcohols, most of which are categorized under the catchall title of "wine" when exported, despite massive variation in taste and strength. I'm deeply ignorant about most of these things: the label on the back refers to it as a Taiwanese product, which is 37% alcohol. It's dark-colored with a blend of earthy herbal flavors (a little fruity, a little cinnamony).
Searches on the name printed on the bottle and the label, "ng-ka-py", mostly brings up the exact same information that got me interested in it in the first place, namely, its prominent mention in Steinbeck's East of Eden. I presume this spirit has a proper Chinese name which is probably quite different from "ng-ka-py", which doesn't sound like a terribly Chinese word in the first place, at least not by modern Romanization. I assume it is one of the staggering variety of different varieties of baijiu, but I got the impression baijiu is usually clear and this isn't.
A better line on what this stuff is would be awesome. If you know where to find it in the vague vicinity of Louisville, KY, that would be even awesomer (mail order is not an option, as it is illegal to receive alcohol by mail in Kentucky and most retailers won't even ship it).
I know that there are many different types of Chinese alcohols, most of which are categorized under the catchall title of "wine" when exported, despite massive variation in taste and strength. I'm deeply ignorant about most of these things: the label on the back refers to it as a Taiwanese product, which is 37% alcohol. It's dark-colored with a blend of earthy herbal flavors (a little fruity, a little cinnamony).
Searches on the name printed on the bottle and the label, "ng-ka-py", mostly brings up the exact same information that got me interested in it in the first place, namely, its prominent mention in Steinbeck's East of Eden. I presume this spirit has a proper Chinese name which is probably quite different from "ng-ka-py", which doesn't sound like a terribly Chinese word in the first place, at least not by modern Romanization. I assume it is one of the staggering variety of different varieties of baijiu, but I got the impression baijiu is usually clear and this isn't.
A better line on what this stuff is would be awesome. If you know where to find it in the vague vicinity of Louisville, KY, that would be even awesomer (mail order is not an option, as it is illegal to receive alcohol by mail in Kentucky and most retailers won't even ship it).
Yep, the characters are 五加皮酒, which in Pīnyīn transcription is Wǔjiāpí jiǔ。According to Baidu, it's a specialty of Tianjin.
Have you tried local Chinese grocery stores? Barring that, perhaps local restaurants would have sources that could help.
posted by jiawen at 1:21 PM on August 14, 2013
Have you tried local Chinese grocery stores? Barring that, perhaps local restaurants would have sources that could help.
posted by jiawen at 1:21 PM on August 14, 2013
Some searching for Wu Jia Pi points in the direction of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine):
http://www.china-fun.net/topics/Topic/20070109/041557.shtml
"Wu Jia Pi jiu (五加皮酒) - a variety of gao liang jiu with a unique selection of Chinese herbal medicine added to the brew. Alcohol content by volume: 54-55%."
http://www.americandragon.com/Individualherbsupdate/WuJiaPi.html
"Cortex Acanthopanacis"
Maybe you can find a bottle of this in a local Chinese herb store?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:11 PM on August 14, 2013
http://www.china-fun.net/topics/Topic/20070109/041557.shtml
"Wu Jia Pi jiu (五加皮酒) - a variety of gao liang jiu with a unique selection of Chinese herbal medicine added to the brew. Alcohol content by volume: 54-55%."
http://www.americandragon.com/Individualherbsupdate/WuJiaPi.html
"Cortex Acanthopanacis"
Maybe you can find a bottle of this in a local Chinese herb store?
posted by Hairy Lobster at 4:11 PM on August 14, 2013
I'm not familiar with Hokkien, but "ng" is a typical way to romanize 五 in Cantonese. It's indeed a nasal sound, which you don't really encounter in Mandarin.
posted by Standard Orange at 7:26 PM on August 14, 2013
posted by Standard Orange at 7:26 PM on August 14, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by zer0render at 1:09 PM on August 14, 2013 [1 favorite]