How to drink Sake?
One of the features of sake is that it can be enjoyed by changing the drinking temperature according to the drinking situation and the food you eat with it.
Sake chilled in a refrigerator or by ice is called “Hiya” or “Rei-shu”(chilled sake),It is about 5 ℃ ~ 15 ℃.
Sake is placed at room temperature is called “Jouon”, but it is sometimes called “Hiya”, so confirmation is required.In wine, the room temperature is around 18 ° C, but in Japan, where the temperature is higher, it is around 20 ° C to 25 ° C.
Sake that has been warmed to 30 ℃ or higher is called “Kan” or “Kan-sake”.About 30 ℃ ~ 40 ℃ is called “Nuru-kan” and 45 ℃ ~ 55 ℃ is called “Atu-kan”.
These are general guides and there are various other names depending on the temperature, so you can try them as you like.However, please remember it is difficult to control the temperature. So please talk to the specialist person in the Japanese-restaurant (Kappou) called “Okanban”.
When should we drink chilled Sake?
For matching with type of sake
Chilled Sake will increase the refreshing and smooth taste, so fresh taste is characterized by “Nama-sake” and a aromatic type “Daiginjo-shu / Junmai Daiginjo -shu“, “Ginjo-shu” /Junmai Ginjo-shu” is suitable. However, please note that if you cool it too much, you will not feel the fragrant or umami-taste, and it will become dull.
Matchig with food
It can be adapted to a wide range of cuisines, not just Japanese cuisine, but it is generally not suitable for food cooked at high temperatures such as stewed dishes and “Nabe-ryori” (hot pot dishes).
Match by situation
There are also ways to enjoy chilled Sake, such as summer afternoons, with cold soda or drink on the rocks.
“Jouon”（room temperature）
At room temperature, you can feel the original nature of the Sake. Therefore, if possible, it is better to first taste at room temperature and then chilled or warm the sake to enjoy the change in flavor.
What the case for drinking warm Sake?
For matching with type of Sake
By warming, the fragrance will spread widely and the umami will increase and become a mellow taste, so “Junmai-shu”, which is a full body type and features umami, is suitable. Junmai Ginjo-shu”is also good for warming. “Warming increases the stimulation of alcohol and makes it“ dry ”, so“ hot Sake ”is generally suitable for “ Honjozo-shu ”and high-quality“ Futuu-shu ”.
Matchig with food
Mostly, it’s warm Sake goes well with Japanese cuisine. In particular, it goes well with grilled fish, boiled dishes and pots, and “Atu-kan” refreshes the mouth after eating oil food, so It is especially good with grilled eel, sukiyaki and yakitori.
Match by situation
Drinking warm Sake with “Nabe-ryori” (hot pot dishes) in cold weather is one way of enjoying Japanese Sake in winter.If you have a chance to come to Japan during the winter season, please try it.
“Yawaragi-mizu” (chaser)
Sake is a brew, but the alcohol content is generally as high as 15 to 18 degrees, so care must be taken when drinking. It’s a good idea to drink “Yawaragi-mizu”(chaser) which is a special water that you drink as a chaser in the same amount as Sake.