Sake Equipment
A sake set is not just a tool for drinking sake. It is a work of art that doubles the deliciousness of Japanese sake. It can be said that the way of drinking and the taste change depending on the cup. It also has a strong character as a ritual vessel, and it teaches you how to drink a variety of sake along a stylish presentation. For sake lovers, you can be particular about sake cups because you can enjoy various scents.
Sake Equipment type
- Choko is the name, “choko” is said to have come from the meaning of “choku” meaning simple things, and “nao” meaning small thing or handy thing, and it is a small cup for drinking sake. There are various types of choko by the shapes and material used, but choko with a blue swirl written on the bottom is called “Janome no Kikichoko” by which you can see the the floating objects and colors. Toji, a head master of brewery use this sake cup upon the tasting of their own sake.
- Guinomi is a sake cup that is slightly larger than choko, and the name comes from the fact that you can drink sake with a “guitto(gulp)”.
- Sakazuki is used not only for drinking sake, but also for fimal occasions such as wedding and Shinto rituals.
- Tokkuri is a sake cup partner for drinking hot sake. A sake cup with a constricted neck and a plum shape for pouring sake. It is said that the name, “tokkuri” comes from the sound of puring sake. It is said that Tokkuri, which was originally a storage container for soy sauce and vinegar, began to be used as a sake cup in the Edo period. Until then, it was common to use a sake cup with a handle called “choshi”. One side has a spout that looks like a sharp mouth. The biggest difference from Tokkuri is that the opening is wide and many are bowl-shaped. The shape is easy to feel the scent of sake.
- Katakuchi is a particular for pouring sake, and it is called Katakuchi because only one side has a spout, which looks a bird’s beak shape
- Chirori is a sake vessel for warming sake that is shaped in hot water and has a handle on the edge so that it can be hung on a pot. The origin of the name is because it is heated in the hearth.
- Masu is a wooden square sake cup. As it has the meaning of “increase”, “masusake” poured into a masu is popular at celebrating. In addition, you often see a style called “mokkiri” at restaurants. Mokkiri is the method of drinking by placing a galss in the masu and pouring the sake so that it overflows. The fragrance of the masu tress is transferred to the sake, and you can enjoy a different texture.
In addition to the above, wine glasses are often used when drinking sake. A tall wine glass with a wide opening enhances the gorgeous aroma of sake. It is recommended for sake called “Daiginjo” and “Ginjo sake”. For sparkling sake, it is recommended pouring it into a thin , tall flute glass.
Material
There are sake cups made of various materials; 1.glass, 2.ceramics, 3. Tin, 4.Wood, 5. lacquerware. Sake cups are meant to be touched not only with the hands but also with the lips, so the material that determiness the first impression of the taste is very important factor when choosing a sake cup. 1. Glass sake cups are recommended for enjoying cold sake, and those with a thin edge that touches the lips make the mouth feel smooth and the contents can be seen, so you can enjoy the color of the sake. 2. Sakeware made of ceramics, especially earthen “pottery”, is thick, while “porcelain”, which is made from stone powder and clay, has a smooth texture and many types with patterns, so it is also pleasing to see.
- Sake cups made of tin have excellent heat conduction, so you can enjoy sake while hot sake remains warm and cold sake cold. There is no need to worry about the peculiar smell of metal, and tin ions also have a bacteria effect.
- Natural wooden sake cups that give you a feeling of warmth are often made of fragrant wood such as cypress, and you can enjoy the exquisite collaboration of the scent of sake and the scent of wood.
- Lacquerware is made of coating wood with layers of lacquer, and glossy black or red lacquerware is often used for celebratory occasions. Its merits are its heat retention and durability , which keeps warm sake warm without worrying anout it breaking, and the more you use it, the more it tastes and changes.
- Tin seems to have been used until around Azuchi-Momoyama period, and since the Edo period, it has been made only in one old workshop in Kyoto. Tin sake cups are popular among young people because of the stylish appearance. High popular among tableware lovers, tin is said to have excellent electrical heat properties, and because it maintains a stable temperature, sake tastes milder.
Ginjo sake with a unique aroma produced by fermentation of sake rice. The aroma is also called “Ginjo”, and it is classified into two types depending on how it is made. One is a fresh and refreshing scent reminiscent of apples and pears, and the other is a sweet and rich secnt similar to bananas and pineapples. Sake is attractive not only for its umami, but also for its rich aroma. It is said that 80% of the deliciousness that people feel is due to the scent. Please enjoy drinking and comparing wonderful sake with various sake cups.
