Soju

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:Korean name image hanja Soju is an alcoholic beverage with origins in Korea. The main ingredient is rice, almost always in combination with other ingredients such as wheat, barley, or sweet potatoes. Soju is clear-colored and typically varies in alcohol content from about 40 to about 90 proof (from 20 to 45% alc. by volume, respectively). Its taste is comparable to vodka.

The Japanese version of soju is shochu. Soju is sometimes mistakenly referred to as rice wine, a term normally used for cheongju, the Korean equivalent of sake.

From 1965 until 1991, in order to alleviate rice shortages, the Korean government prohibited the production of distilled soju. Soju was then made primarily through dilution by mixing pure ethanol with water and flavoring. The vast majority of inexpensive soju available today is produced in this manner. The Korean government regulates the alcohol content of diluted soju to less than 35%.

Because of its ready availability and its low price relative to other alcoholic beverages, soju has become one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Korea. More than 3 billion bottles were consumed in South Korea in 2004. Template:Ref However, other drinks such as beer, whiskey, and wine have been gaining popularity in recent years.

Along with the mass-produced brands, which are widely available in Korea, there are several regions which are famous for making soju in a more traditional way, with the soju made in Andong being the most famous. Soju is typically consumed in a small shot glasses.

Jinro is the largest manufacturer of soju (70 Million Cases Sold in 2004).

1 History
2 Notes
3 See also
4 External links

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History

It was first distilled around 1300 A.D. during the Mongol occupation of Korea. The Mongols had acquired the technique of distilling arak when they invaded Central Asia/Middle East around 1256 AD, then it was subsequently introduced to Koreans and distilleries were set up around city of Kaesong (around the area of Kaesong, soju is known as arak-ju).

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