This series clearly summarizes the key points that are useful to know in order to enjoy Japanese sake.
Changing sake vessels can change the way you perceive the aroma and taste, and even your mood. Here we will summarize some important points about sake vessels when enjoying sake.
Choose according to your mood and purpose
When researching sake ware, you often find detailed information on the best type of sake ware for each type of sake and the reasons for it. For advanced and professional drinkers, this information may be necessary knowledge to judge the delicate aroma and flavor, but for beginners, it may be a burden. Therefore, as a Kaminosake who places importance on "enjoying sake casually," when choosing your own sake ware, we would like you to prioritize your mood and purpose first . For example, how about choosing the following?
If you want to fully experience the aroma and flavor → Wine glasses
If you want to experience the culture of sake → sake cups, sake cups, sake cups, masu
Pair with Western food → Wine glasses, glass or tin sake cups
Want to enjoy hot sake → Ceramic, Chirori
If you want to drink it on the rocks → Whiskey glass
If you want to drink sours → Tumbler
If you have a variety of sake vessels, you can enjoy drinking sake according to your mood or the meal you are having, so I hope you will feel free to try out different ways in your own way. Since the visual impression is a big point , I think it's a good idea to choose something with a design you like or something stylish.
However, when you buy good sake, there are times when you want to enjoy the aroma and flavor of the sake through the sake cup. In such cases, we will introduce some useful points to know.
Factors that affect aroma and taste
Delicious sake tastes good no matter what sake ware you use, but there are sake wares that are more suitable for enjoying the flavor of each product depending on its characteristics. This selection is based on taste, smell, and touch rather than sight. The key points for selecting sake ware are the shape and material .
How scents are perceived depending on shape: air convection, surface area in contact with air
There are many different shapes, such as trumpet-shaped, tulip-shaped, straight, and bud-shaped, but the key points are how much air comes into contact with the alcohol (oxidation) and whether the air is trapped or spreads out. Since aroma is a major factor in the taste you feel, the shape of the sake has the biggest impact on how you perceive the aroma.
How shape affects taste: How the drink flows over your tongue
The amount you drink, the speed, and the way it spreads will change depending on the design and thickness of the shape, the length and shape of the mouth, etc. For example, if you drink from a tall sake vessel, you tilt your head up when drinking, which makes the angle of your face steeper and causes the sake to flow from the tip of your tongue to the back in one go, whereas if you drink from a low vessel, the angle is more horizontal, and the sake spreads from the center of your tongue to the back and sides. It was also said that the tongue senses different flavors depending on its position (taste map), but this is incorrect , and it is known that it has nothing to do with which part of the tongue you taste with.
How ingredients affect taste: texture
There are ceramics, lacquerware (wood), glass, tin, etc., and the texture, thickness, and temperature of each material affect the taste.
How ingredients affect scent: Does it have a scent?
If the material itself has a scent, such as a cypress masu, it may be difficult to detect the aroma of the sake itself. Also, be careful not to leave any detergent behind.
If you want to know more, please refer to this website , which has a good summary. Also, RIEDEL, a famous wine glass brand, holds seminars on glasses, so we recommend experiencing the difference in taste at these seminars.
A recommended first step to enjoying sake ware
When you think of Japanese sake, you probably think of sake cups, but I recommend drinking it from a wine glass, especially for beginners . It's easier to detect the aroma and flavor, and I think it will change your impression of Japanese sake. Wine glasses look natural when paired with Western food, and they will broaden your world of Japanese sake.
If you have several different sake vessels, you can experience different flavors even with the same product, and the range of enjoyment will be expanded. They also look stylish as interior decorations, so why not start by collecting three types: wine glasses, sake cups, and sake cups ? (I actually collected these three at an event I attended and as a bonus with the sake.)
Right) A sake cup I received when I participated in a pairing event at Marco in Sangenjaya
Center) Amabie sake cup that came with the Shiratsuyu Tarejama sake from Takenotsyu Brewery
Left) A wine glass I received when I attended a wine event.
If you compare the same sake in these three sake cups, you will notice that the aroma and flavor change, so be sure to give it a try!
Comments