Water, yeast and microbes begin the fermentation process.
水,酒曲以及多种微生物启动了发酵过程
That's microbes, grain, yeast and it gets put into the pit and it ferments?
这些就是微生物,谷物,酵母,它们被装进坑里发酵吗
Yes.
是的
How long does that take?
发酵要多长时间呢
Three to six months.
3到6个月
Some of these ancient pits have been in continuous use since 1573
这些坑有的自1573年就开始一直使用了
and have pass through centuries of China's tumultuous history from imperial dynasties to Chairman Mao's Little Red Book.
它们历经了中国数百年的动荡历史,从帝国王朝延续至毛主席的红宝书年代
After fermentation, the powerful blend is transferred into large distilling vats.
发酵完成后,这些强劲的混合物被转移进巨大的蒸馏桶里
So basically, spreading it out inside here... Yes?
所以基本上就是把它们散堆在这里,是吗
and then this gets heated up and boiled.
然后进行加热煮沸
How long will it be in the boiler for?
要在里面加热多久呢
About 30 minutes. Just 30 minutes? Yes.
大约30分钟。只要30分钟吗?是的
Steam rises up from the fermented sorghum and finally condenses into this mighty drink.
蒸汽从发酵的高粱上升起,并最终凝结成这种强劲的饮料
I have been invited by one of the distillery workers to a local restaurant to learn the special art of drinking Baijiu.
有位酒厂的工人邀请我到一家当地餐馆来学习白酒的独特艺术
Thanks to Confucius etiquette is a vital part of Chinese life,
拜孔子所赐,礼仪在中国人的生活中至关重要
so there are centuries-old rituals that need to be observed.
这里有着上百年的仪式需要好好学习
You are the host, what is your role?
作为主人,你要做什么呢
As a host, we'll toast three times.
作为主人,我们要敬酒三轮
Once the host has toasted three times, it seems fair game for anyone else to raise their glass.
主人敬酒三轮后,其他人似乎便可自由举杯畅饮了
Guest always comes first.
客人总是要最先满上的