Jiangji Distillery produces clear spirits made from Gaoliang (sorghum) that comes from company-owned farms and water from the river Yangtze. Inherited techniques such as solid-state fermentation in stone pits and use of fermentation starter xiao qu, as well as modern distillation are all applied before optional aging in ceramic jars. To prepare the sorghum grains for fermentation, they need to be soaked in hot water, steamed, and cooled back to room temperature. The microorganisms in xiao qu enable saccharifaction of the grains' starches