How to drink Sake

How to drink sake

 I will show how to drink sake. There are some way to drink sake, as cold, as warm, as hot and so on. I am writing how to drink generally.

As cold

 This is way to drink as cold literally. It is not saying too much that most people like this way these days. This sake is served with 7℃to 10℃ degree.　Recently there are some containers for sake as cold. When you want to enjoy sake as cold, you can enjoy easier.

What kind of sake are suitable as cold? 

  I recommend Ginjou-shu because if you warm this kind of sake, the balance of citric acid which is included sake are broken. That's why I recommend this way when you want to drink Ginjou-shu.

 

As warm

This way is also famous for a way to drink sake. How to call this way are little different depends on degree.

 Hitohada-kan
This is warmed until about 35℃. When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel the degree is same with the warmth of the skin.

 Nuru-kan
This is warmed until about 40℃. When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel hot to some extent.

 Atsu-kan
This is warmed until about 50℃.When you touch a bottom of tokkuri, you can feel very hot.


What kind of sake are suitable as warm?

I recommend Futsu-shu, Honjozo-shu, Junmai as a warm. Lactic acid and succinic acid bring out umami which is included in sake when you drink as warm.

As ordinal degree.

Some people call this way as cold, but a right way to drink this way is from 15℃ to 20℃.

Characteristics of sake made using other manufacturing

 Characteristics of sake made using other manufacturing
 

1 Nigorizake (cloudy sake)

2 Namazake

3 Koshu (aged sake)

4 Genshu

 5 Taruzake (cask sake)

.

 6 Sparkling sake

 

How to serve Sake

How to serve sake

 Outside of Japan, most people have a image that sake must be served warmed but actuality, whether or not to warm sake should be up to the type of sake served, the season or climate, and personal preference. While a warm cup of junmai sake may be very enjoyable on a cold or snowy day, a well-chilled glass of namazake (draft sake) may be just the right beverage for a warm summer day.

Snow County ''Niigata''

Niigata is referred to as “Snow Country”

 People in Japan think of Niigata and they think of rice and sake. And snow?its clean, plentiful water is one key to the purity and flavor of its sake.

 Niigata City, the capital of Niigata Prefecture and the largest city on the Japan Sea coast, is located about 200 miles north of Tokyo. It takes two hours by Shinkansen,bullet train, and four hours by car to get there from Tokyo. Shinano River, the longest river in Japan, runs through Niigata Prefecture. The river supplies an abundance of water to rice fields in the region. Its long winters and plentiful snowfalls also add to the water tables.

 Niigata Prefecture is one of the largest producers of rice in Japan. Not only that, it is also well known in Japan as the producer of Koshi Hikari, which is the most popular variety of table rice. The rice is a premium product and is therefore sold at the highest prices. The name Koshi Hikari means “Niigata Shining”?the rice has a pure, beautiful, white color that shines in the light.

 Niigata Prefecture is the only so-called state government in Japan which has such an organization completely dedicated sake. This is one important distinction showing how Sake, as a product, is nearly synonymous with its regional identity. The region is also famous throughout Japan for its local seafood cuisines.

Special-designation sake

Special-designation sake

 There are two basic types of sake: Futsū-shu (ordinary sake) and Tokutei meishō-shu (special-designation sake). Futsū-shu is the equivalent of table wine and accounts for the majority of sake produced. Tokutei meishō-shu refers to premium sakes distinguished by the degree to which the rice has been polished and the added percentage of brewer's alcohol or the absence of such additives. There are eight varieties of special-designation sake.

Kakurei''Junmaidaiginjo''

Kakurei''Junmaidaiginjo''

 Kakurei should be drunk by people who are satiated with Niigata's sake seeing as this doesn't have a characteristic of Niigata's sake. Almost all Niigata's sake are dry and crispy. But this is rather fragrant and good full-bodied sake. This flavor and taste will break your fixed idea and your biased view of Niigata's sake. I will recommend this sake to people who really like sake. 

Kosinokanbai

Koshinokanbai

 

 

 Koshinokanbai is known as a premium of sake in all of Japan. This has a concept as dry sake that good sake is drinkable like water. This sake has kept this concept when a trend of sweet sake was. You can feel a good flavor and sharpness in taste. You should try this if you want to talk about Niigata's sake to your friends.