When koji-kin rains
rice’s heart is purified
so much sake to drink
Haiku 28
Tag: sake
Guest Post: The Challenges Of Making Sake Outside Of Japan (Part 1)
Twenty-five years ago, as Coolio topped the US charts and let us take a look around his Gangsta’s Paradise, on the other side of the world, just 3.3m bold adventurers chose to visit Japan as their holiday destination, ranking it a lowly 34th most visited country.
Ten years later, visitor numbers were over twice that and, despite a blip in growth due to the Fukushima incident almost a decade ago, Japan’s popularity hasn’t looked back.
One of the main reasons for this has been the popularity of Japanese food. And what goes well with all that yakitori, sashimi and okonomiyaki goodness? Well, beer of course, but also sake. In 2019 the sake export market was ¥23.4bn (up 25% from just two years earlier), more than triple that of 2009, with the largest importer being the United States, with China and Hong Kong second and third.
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Choya Futsushu Sake Review: A Highly Sessionable Nihonshu
Among the many exciting aspects of sake are the different grades with their own distinctive characteristics, like the savoury qualities of a good honjozo. Futsushu (ordinary/table) nihonshu has a mixed reputation, despite being the most common type of sake, accounting for 75% of all sake produced in Japan.
Compared to premium grades like a daiginjo, futsushu can be derided as being ‘low-quality’ and that is simply untrue. After tasting Choya futsushu sake, I can say that there’s a lot to enjoy about the category.
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The Kokoro Files: Justin Potts
The Kokoro Files shares the stories of people and their connection to Japan. This connection takes many forms, and in the case of Justin Potts, it set him off on a life-long quest to learn all there is about nihonshu. A co-host of the amazing Sake on Air podcast, food and beverage entrepreneur and Master of Sake, Justin has plenty of stories to share about his love affair with sake.
Read on to learn about how his journey started, the genesis of Sake on Air and where he feels the industry is going.
Riedel Junmai Sake Glass Review: Perfect For Drinking Complex Nihonshu
The great thing about drinking sake is that it can be enjoyed in numerous vessels. From small ochoko cups to wine glasses, every vessel provides a new experience to enjoy, reflecting the wonderful diversity of nihonshu.
I’ve officially taken my sake geekery to the next level by investing in specially designed glassware that’s perfect for drinking Junmai (pure rice) sake. Crafted by the Riedel Glass Company, the Junmai sake glass really does make a difference when imbibing Japan’s national drink.
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Discover The Wonderful World Of Nihonshu On The Sake Revolution Podcast
In an age of digital connection, podcasts are an excellent resource for learning new topics. As a fan of sake, I’ve enjoyed listening to the Sake On Air podcast, which regularly covers themes on nihonshu and shochu. But it’s not the only Japanese booze podcast in town. I’d also recommend listening to America’s first sake podcast, Sake Revolution.
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4 Ways In Which Sake Has Helped My Mental Health
Discovering new hobbies is a great technique for developing a positive mental health routine and in my case it’s been sake. Since setting off on my journey into the world of nihonshu, I’ve found it’s been a positive experience during times of poor mental health and I wanted to share four ways in which it’s helped.
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Shochu Glossary: The Lexicon Of Japan’s National Spirit
Japan is known for having a unique drinking culture, best represented by sake/nihonshu in the west. But to leave out Japan’s national spirit, shochu, would be a massive disservice to the distillers who work tirelessly to produce one of the most versatile drinks in the world.
Education about shochu and its older cousin awamori is still lacking in western culture. But to help people learn more about it, Yamato Magazine has provided a glossary of essential shochu terms.
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Sake Glossary: A Guide For Beginners
Immersing yourself in the world of sake is an exciting experience that can quickly turn into a life-long pursuit of knowledge. Just when you think you’ve mastered something, there’s a new kind of nihonshu to try or a different kind of rice to discover. Falling down the sake rabbit hole is rewarding, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the terminology.
To help, Yamato Magazine has created a handy glossary of useful sake terms to remember.
The Kokoro Files: Christopher Pellegrini
The Kokoro Files shares the stories of people and their connection to Japan, and this edition is particularly exciting for me because I had the opportunity to chat with one of the world’s leading authorities on shochu, Chris Pellegrini. A Japanese spirit evangelist, Chris is passionate about spreading the gospel of shochu and awamori. He definitely made a convert out of me!
From talking shochu 101, to clearing up the differences between shochu and Korean soju, we cover a lot of ground in this interview. Read on to discover the exciting world of Japan’s indigenous spirit. Who knows? By the time you’ve finished reading you might be ready to jump down the rabbit hole.
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