Eveything You Need To Know About Drinking Sake

Without some sake tasting, a visit to Japan would be incomplete. There is a proper manner to consume sake because it is a sophisticated beverage with a lengthy history. However, it could be difficult to get started if you aren’t a frequent consumer of sake. To get the most out of traditional Japanese cuisine and to avoid coming out as a rookie, learn how to sip sake properly. Here are some things that you should know about drinking sake.

What is Sake?

Japanese rice wine known as sake has been a favorite beverage for ages. It’s actually much more adaptable than its sushi reputation would imply and is served hot or cold. Everyone from French wineries to American brewers are fusing different genres to reinvent the drink.

A very unique and traditional procedure is used to make sake. The main component of sake mai rice is thoroughly polished to get it ready for fermentation. Then the brewer adds water, yeast, and the mold Aspergillus oryzae, which is also a key component in making soy sauce. To get the intended effects, this is brewed for a few months to several years.

History of Sake

As early as 4,000 BC, China is where sake’s origins can be roughly located. However, the production of the beverage increased significantly once Japan established wet rice cultivation around 300 BC. The production of sake was initially prohibited by the Japanese government. However, around the 10th century, temples and shrines started brewing the beverage. The main sake distilleries in Japan for centuries later were the temples. One of the most ceremonial alcoholic beverages in Japan by the 1300s was sake. The national drink of Japan is currently sake.

How To Drink Sake?

In Japan, drinking sake is a tradition and a way of life. In light of this, there is a proper method to drink. Never consume a cup of sake like a shot of tequila. Sake is typically served in little cups known as “guinomi” or “choko.” You won’t just appear silly to a seasoned sake drinker; you won’t also experience the full effects of the beverage. The ideal way to appreciate sake is to sip it, just like you would a nice wine or glass of tea. Sake has been brewed for many hundred years.

Test It Out Both Ways: Hot and Cold

Even while sake is typically served warm, it also tastes great when cooled, at room temperature, or even when it’s heated. Sake that is less expensive is frequently warmed to hide its inferior quality, whereas premium sake is served cold. Once more, you should probably experiment with this. If you like a particular sake with an SMV, you could prefer it at other serving temperatures. Sake, in contrast to wines and beers, is a flexible drink, and you may have a lot of fun playing with the various ways to sip it.

Be Familiar With Names of your Sake

Sake comes in a variety of varieties, as if mastering its consumption weren’t difficult enough (but so worth it). Like there are many distinct sorts of wine, such as Riesling or Cabernet, so too are there many various flavors, SMV levels, and finishes for sake. To prevent coming seen as inexperienced, become familiar with the names of the sakes before making your buy.

If you are new to sake drinking, you should stay away from koshu sake. It has a strong, unpleasant flavor. You should generally stay away from low-grade “Futsu Shu,” unless you’re a masochist who loves the feeling of a terrible hangover.

What brands of sake are suggested for both new and seasoned drinkers? Namazake is a fresh, unpasteurized sake with a fruity flavor. And ‘Junmai,’ a premium sake that is often smooth and hence simpler to consume, is always a good choice.

Key Takeaway

Sake is distinct from all other drinks because of its distinctive flavor and aroma. Like beer or wine, sake is available in a wide range of flavors, but drinking sake is a whole different experience. You will never regret trying this drink out!