How Now Tsingtao?

Tsingtao Beer

Tsingtao (pronounced: ching-dow) was first brewed in 1903 in the Northeastern port town of Qingdao. According to their website, Tsingtao is “the #1 consumer product exported from China.” It was first introduced to the United States in 1972 and can now be found in 62 countries and regions around the world.

Chinese beer tends to be lighter, low-alcohol pale lager with Tsingtao as the classic example; historically the most widely recognized Chinese beer label. In recent years China’s Snow label has overtaken world markets and now reigns as the number one selling beer in the world. The title is a bit misleading, however, as Snow represents a broad range of beers.

The complexity of Chinese cuisine presents some unique challenges when pairing with European style wines. Faced with this prospect, a default choice is quite often beer. The good news is the art of Eastern-Western food and wine pairing is new and therefore wide open to exploration and experimentation.