Sake and Sake Sets

Sake and sake sets have played a central role in Japanese culture and tradition for thousands of years. More recently, its popularity has become widespread in the western world as well, inspiring a new generation of cocktails and trendy sake bars.

Recipe for Sak-sess

Sake is made from rice, water, yeast, and a mold known as Koji-kin, or Koji mold. But there is much more to making a standout sake than these basic ingredients. As with wine, the region from which it hails and the craftsmen that do the growing and brewing give each particular blend of sake its distinct flavor and flair. The knowledge and skill needed to brew a savory batch of sake lies with the head brewers, known as the toji, the type of yeast they use, and the local land and weather conditions where the rice is grown.

Japanese Sake Set Catalog #: AT-1012 Decanter: 4.5" tall Weight: 2.0 lbs click for details

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Good Fortune Sake Set Catalog #: AT-1011 Decantr: 5.5" tall Weight: 2.00 lbs click for details

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Plum Blossom Sake Set Catalog #: AT-1009 Decanter: 5" tall Weight: 2.00 lbs click for details

Think rice is plain? Think again. There are about 65 varieties used to make sake, and some are more prized than others. The basic process of making sake involves polishing, or milling, the rice kernels, which are then cooked in water and made into a mash. In the early days of making sake, people did the polishing, chewing rice and nuts and then spitting the mixture into a tub. The chewing process provided the enzymes that helped cause fermentation. This practice fell out of popularity when people learned how to create the fermentation process with ingredients.

A Drink to Tradition

Sake is used for many purposes in Shinto, a Japanese religion. During a Shinto wedding ceremony, the bride and groom drink sake to seal their vows. Sake is also thought to promote good health and was once used as an offering to the gods. But sake is not just reserved for religious ceremony. It is a part of everyday ritual, as well. Sake is served as a popular aperitif, and presentation is an important part of the experience. Sake sets come in a variety of shapes, which are made from ceramic or wood. Ceramic sake sets are most often used for sake served warm, and wooden sets are used when the sake is cold or room temperature.

Sake is most often sipped from a small cup shaped like a miniature bowl, and poured from a small pitcher. Because it is meant to be enjoyed with friends and family, tradition dictates how sake is served: a person must never pour their own. A friend or family member pours sake for you, and you do the same for them. The server holds the pitcher with both hands, while the person being served holds their cup with one hand and rests the bottom of the cup in the other.

Times have changed since sake was first brewed, but the sentiment surrounding its consumption has not. Sake continues to be a drink of celebration, a drink of reverence, a toast to family and friendship.