Thank you for visiting the Sakura Town Sake Store today.
Sakura Town offers a wide variety of premium sake, low alcohol sake, sparkling sake, and pesticide-free sake, and we ship worldwide.

Last Article

In the last article, I shared with you about the rice grown for sake brewing. There are different types of rice that tend to grow in different regions, and each has its own unique taste. If you want to become an expert in sake, please compare the rice to find the rice you prefer.

Today's Topic

Is the water in your area good? In Japan, most water, including tap water, is soft water. The lack of minerals makes the water mellow and soft, and it gently slides down your throat. When I travel abroad, I cannot hide my surprise at how different water can be. I have missed Japan so much that I made instant miso soup with tap water, but it turned out to be a completely different food. Not many people are aware of the difference in water, but water is very important for sake brewing, and the taste varies depending on the type of water.

Good sake requires good water.

Sake is made of rice, rice koji, and water, and about 80% of its ingredients are water. Therefore, good water is very important for good sake. In addition to the water used to make sake, the water used to wash rice, clean bottles and machinery, and for other sake-making processes, the total amount of water needed is 50 times the total weight of the rice used. This means that sake cannot be easily transported. This is why sake is often made in areas with good water.

Enjoy the water difference.

Have you ever heard the expression "women's sake" or "men's sake?" Water has a hardness that is indicated by the mineral content in the water, which is calculated from calcium and magnesium. Mineral content is a nutrient that aids fermentation, so sake brewed with water that has a high mineral content tends to have a strong acidity and a crisp, thick, dry taste. Sake made with hard water, which produces a strong image, is generally called "Otoko (men's) sake. On the other hand, sake brewed with soft water produces a softer image with a light, sweet flavor, and is therefore called "onna(women's) sake.

Finally..

As the characteristics of the water also affect the taste, one viewpoint is to look at where the sake is made in addition to the specific name such as "Junmai Daiginjo" and the type of sake rice such as "Yamada Nishiki" to determine your own preference.

See you again in our next blog!