Japanese Sake

Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by grace in Ingredients, Japanese

Sake, often called the “Drink of the Gods” by the Japanese, is a beverage produced from sake rice, pure water, koji spores, and specially selected yeasts. Sake is brewed like beer, but it is served and enjoyed like a fine white wine. There are different sake grade levels, each requiring different brewing methods and a different percentage of rice milling. In general, the more you mill )or polish) the rice, the higher the quality. The brewing process for higher grade sake is also more labor intensive and more steps are done by hand and over longer time periods.

Vine Connections imports only premium, authentically-Japanese sake, the majority of this failing into a grade level specifically referred to as “Ginjo” sake. Ginjo sake is made with premium sake rice and the purest of water and uses only labor-intensive, traditional brewing methods. Non-premium sake usually served hot to mask the undesirable aromas and flavors usually associated with lower quality rice and water.

Tozai sake is a marvelous introduction to sake as it offers choice for every type of sake drinker at a reasonable price.  If you are just beginning to develop your sake palate, we suggest the light, clean, easy-to-drink Tozai Living Jewel. As you progress and wish to drink sake with more depth and complexity, we suggest moving to a Ginjo such as Tozai Well of Wisdom or even a Daiginjo such as Konteki Pearls of Simplicity.

Courtesy of Vine Connections