After work, I had a relaxing evening drink today.
What kind of sake and what kind of snacks do you pair with sake on such occasions? In fact, just as there is a marriage between wine and food, there are also dishes that go perfectly with sake.
In this article, we introduce how to choose the best snacks for each type of sake. We hope you will find the perfect marriage between your favourite sake and snacks.
目次
- What are the four categories of sake?
- The marriage of sake and snacks. Recommended dishes and ways to taste them.
- Find unexpected combinations.
- Easy to compare drinks & food, SAKEPOST
advertisement
What are the four categories of sake?
There are many different types of sake in terms of aroma, richness and mouthfeel. In fact, they are broadly classified into four categories. These are: kunshu, which includes daiginjo and ginjo sake; soshu, which includes plain sake, honjozo sake and nama-shu; junmai-shu; and jyunshu, which includes long-aged or old sake.
First, let's look at what these sakes taste like.
Kaoru-shu - highly aromatic daiginjo-shu and ginjo-shu.
A light, light drink with a gorgeous fruity aroma. This type of drink has a rich flavour even when drunk on its own. If served with snacks, light, refreshing dishes and ingredients that make the most of the flavours of the ingredients are recommended.
Sake - clean, plain sake, honjozo sake and nama sake.
Characterised by a light, dry and refreshing taste. Many sakes have a subdued aroma. Can be matched with a wide range of dishes, from light to rich, mainly Japanese cuisine.
Mellow sake - full-bodied, with a rich aroma and full-bodied flavour, Junmai sake.
Characterised by a robust flavour that gives a sense of the rice itself. It is an excellent accompaniment to "side dishes that go well with rice", which go well with white rice. Can also be used with dishes with butter or white sauce.
Mature sake - powerful in both aroma and taste, long-aged sake, old sake.
As it is a drink with a unique aroma and flavour, it is recommended to drink it alone or as an after-dinner drink, rather than as a mid-meal drink. If you want something to snack on, match it with cheese or chocolate.
The marriage of sake and snacks. Recommended dishes and ways to taste them.
So what kind of food and at what temperature should each of these sakes be enjoyed?
alcoholic beverage for smoking
● Recommended dishes.
Sashimi, boiled and vinegared vegetables, tempura wild vegetables, steamed clams and clams with sake, salads with herbs, fruit, spring rolls, stick chicken, etc.
● Recommended drinking.
When cooled to between 10°C and 15°C, the aroma will waft through the air.
Refreshing wine
● Recommended dishes.
Chilled tofu, boiled tofu, chawanmushi, soba noodles, seafood salads, shaomai, cabbage rolls, omelettes, meuniere, etc.
● Recommended drinking.
Room temperature is common, but some sakes have more flavour when heated to around 40°C (104°F). The optimum temperature depends on the sake, so try the recommended temperature.
Alcoholic wines
● Recommended dishes.
Fish stew, simmered dishes, mackerel stewed in miso, salted fish, pork cutlets, sukiyaki, curry, yakitori with sauce, gyoza, etc. Fermented foods and dairy products, such as cream cheese, also go well with sake made from raw yeast or Yamahai.
● Recommended drinking.
At around 15°C, or at room temperature or lukewarm, you can enjoy the true flavour of the rice. However, you can enjoy it at any temperature you like, as it is not very temperature sensitive.
fermented sake
● Recommended dishes.
Pork stew, tsukudani, broiled eel, beefsteak, foie gras, duck and lamb dishes, cheese, chocolate, etc.
● Recommended drinking.
Room temperature to around 40°C. Do not overheat, as this can destroy the aroma and flavour.
Find unexpected combinations.
Each sake has its own unique characteristics. Not all of them apply in this way, but why not use them as a reference for choosing your snacks? Some of these dishes may be unexpected combinations. We hope you will find new enjoyment in combinations you have never tried before.
Easy to compare drinks & food, SAKEPOST
If you want to try different types of sake, we also recommend SAKEPOST, which offers a variety of sake in three 100ml bottles. The sake is delivered in 100 ml bottles, which is less than a full bottle, so it's perfect for people who are worried about whether they will be able to finish the bottle if they buy a four-pack.
Three different types of sake per month, so if you subscribe to one plan, you will have access to 36 different types of sake per year. You will not be sent the same brand of sake for at least 12 months.
Why not compare sake drinks & food at SAKEPOST and find your own favourite combination?
日本酒サブスクリプションサービス「SAKEPOST」
Operated by FARM8 Corporation (https://farm8.jp)
advertisement
