Culture medium (baiyouki)

A culture medium (baiyouki) is a liquid or solid material containing nutrients and other components used to grow microorganisms or cells. It supplies the organisms being cultured with the nutrients, energy sources, vitamins, minerals and other substances they need, and promotes their propagation and growth. Culture media are usually classified by form: a liquid medium is called a "liquid medium" (液体培地), and a solid one is called a "solid medium" (固体培地). In sake brewing, culture media play an important role in cultivating microorganisms such as yeast and lactic acid bacteria.