3. What is sake?

Question 1

What is sake?

Answer 1

Sake is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice. Most sakes are clear and pale or colourless, typically 15-17% abv, slightly sweet and lightly acidic, with delicate flavours and aromas.

Question 2

What is sake made of?

Answer 2

Sakes are made using the following ingredients:

steamed white rice, kōji, water, yeast.

Question 3

High-strength distilled alcohol

Answer 3

(jōzō alcohol) is an optional ingredient.

Question 4

Rice starch is converted into fermentable sugar by enzymes that are created by a mould when it grows on a portion of the rice.

Answer 4

The mouldy rice is called kōji.

Question 5

There are two categories of sake

Answer 5

1. basic (futsū-shu)

2. premium, which is more tightly controlled, and subdivided into grades

Question 6

Which are the six main grades of premium sake?

Answer 6

NO DISTILLED ALCOHOL ADDED
Junmai Daiginjō
Junmai Ginjō
Junmai

SMALL AMOUNT OF DISTILLED ALCOHOL ADDED
Daiginjō
Ginjō
Honjōzō

Question 7

What kind of style do Junmai Daiginjō and Daiginjō; Junmai Ginjō and Ginjō have?

Answer 7

• lighter body
• fruity aromas
• lower levels of acidity and umami

Question 8

What kind of style do Junmai and Honjōzō have?

Answer 8

• fuller body
• cereal and lactic aromas
• higher levels of acidity and umami