Bonenkai (year-end drinking party) season is coming up. Which would you prefer, beer or wine for the party? Why don’t you try raising a glass of sake (Japanese rice wine) when you say “Kampai” this year?

Made all across Japan, sake is said to have more than 20,000 brands with different regional tastes. Generally, alcohol content in sake is about 15%, a little higher than wine. There are many types of sake, with differences mainly depending on the brewing method and ingredients, or the degree to which the rice used to make it has been milled. Aroma, taste, and food pairing of sake vary according to its type. For example, Ginjoshu has a fruity fragrance and simple taste, so it is best consumed with refreshing food such as seafood salad.

Sake can be enjoyed at a wide range of temperatures depending on the season. In winter, it is a good idea to warm your body with Atsukan (hot sake served at 50℃).

In this bonenkai season, how about exploring a little bit to find your favorite sake?

 

November 5th, 2019
Edited by: Meguro International Friendship Association(MIFA)