Chinese rice wine
(CRW) is a traditional and unique alcoholic
beverage
in China, favored by many consumers for its rich aroma, unique taste,
and complex ingredients. Its flavor is primarily composed of volatile
and nonvolatile compounds. These flavor compounds are partly derived
from grains and starters (Qu), while the other part is produced by
microbial metabolism and chemical reactions during the brewing process.
Additionally, ethyl carbamate (EC) in CRW, a hazardous chemical,
necessitates controlling its concentration during brewing. In recent
years, numerous new brewing techniques for CRW have emerged. Therefore,
this paper aims to collect aroma descriptions and thresholds of flavor
compounds in CRW, summarize the relationship between the brewing process
of CRW and flavor formation, outline methods for reducing the concentration
of EC in the brewing process of CRW, and summarize the four stages
(pretreatment of grains, fermentation, sterilization, and aging process)
of new techniques. Furthermore, we will compare the advantages and
disadvantages of different approaches, with the expectation of providing
a valuable reference for improving the quality of CRW.