Kanzake on cold days - you can warm up these sakes in our store

The days are getting colder and colder, so a warm sake can be a great way to warm your body and mind at the moment. However, it depends on the right sake. Not every sake should be warmed. High qualities such as Ginjo or Junmai Daiginjos would lose a lot of their aroma. Sake such as Junmai or Honjozo sake, on the other hand, are quite suitable.

Complex aroma

Heating sake can intensify complex aromas. These aromas spread across the palate and give each sip a deep, full-bodied taste. In Japan, by the way, heating Japanese sake is called "Okan suru" and sake served warm is called "Kanzake". The tradition of heating sake goes back 2000 years. It can definitely be a lot of fun to experiment with the different drinking temperatures and see which one is right for your personal taste. Drinking temperatures range from 30°C to 55°C.

How to heat sake

When heating sake, the right vessel is the cornerstone for success. A heat-resistant carafe or a special sake carafe (Tokkuri) is best suited. The traditional and gentlest method is to pour the sake into the carafe and heat it in a water bath at approx. 80°C for 1-2 minutes. A thermometer is essential when heating sake to check the temperature. And don't forget: heated sake no longer tastes good when cooled, so only heat as much sake as you actually drink.

IMAGE: JSS Sake