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PM Group | The Project Delivery Specialists
Swellfun
Baijiu fermentation facility
Location
China
Key Statistics
- Client
- Swellfun
- Year
- 2021
- PM Group Office
- China
- Cost
- $380m
- Size
- 300,000 sq.m.
PM Group is providing EPCM services for a new Baijiu facility in Western China. It will be the largest fermentation facility in Chengdu.
Do you have a food, beverage or consumer health project? Talk to one of our experts.
Tom Waters
Food Sector Director
About Baijiu
With more than 10 billion bottles sold per year, Baijiu is the world’s most popular spirit. It is a staple drink at most Chinese celebrations.
Made and consumed in China for over 5,000 years, Baijiu is considered a key part of the national heritage. Baijiu means ‘white alcohol’ referencing the 40 to 60% alcohol by volume (ABV) liquid.
20,000KL
Production capacity.
Largest
Fermentation facility in Chengdu
40,000KL
Storage capacity.
A key Baijiu ingredient is the ‘Qu’, a grain based fermentation starter. This is essential for the breakdown of the sugars to allow alcohol to form. Along with the Qu, a combination of six different rice and grains are mixed and steamed before being buried in mud pits to ferment. The pit is then uncovered and the layers of fermented grains removed and distilled to extract the liquid. This cycle is repeated by adding new ingredients to the already fermented mix and processing over and over.
The distilled liquid is matured in clay pots for three to ten years before being blended and bottled. Baijiu flavors can be as varied as whiskey.