JC Uni-tec: Demystifying the Sake

From JC Uni-Tec

From JC Uni-Tec

JC Uni-Tec brings the art and tradition of Japanese cuisine to American homes.

Known as Japan's traditional rice wine, sake in reality does not undergo the fermenting process typical of true wine. Instead, this beverage is produced through the same brewing process used to manufacture beer.

This rice-based alcoholic beverage is commonly referred to as Nihonshu by the Japanese, literally translating to "Japanese sake." The 3rd century Chinese text entitled the Book of Wei describes the drink as an integral part of Japanese festivities. The Kojiki, Japan's first written history, also narrates how the drink was consumed during religious ceremonies due to their belief that the drink caused the disciples to become "spiritually high."

JC Uni-Tec on the Sake Tradition

From JC Uni-Tec

By the Asuka period, true sake became the dominant beverage all over Japan. However, during the Heian Dynasty, it was decreed that the drink must be used exclusively in religious ceremonies. The government monopolized its production until temples and shrines began to brew sake, which eventually became the centers of its production for over five centuries.

Today, the beverage remains to be in the heart of Japanese merriment especially in the commemoration of special occasions where both elders and youngsters raise a drink to the spirit of the moment. Sake still holds a significant role as part of the Shinto purification ritual comparable to the grape wine drank in the celebration of the Christian Eucharist.

The tradition has been carried down through the ages and has migrated to other nations. The beverage can now be found on the menus of restaurants specializing in Japanese cuisine or are served in the comforts of one's home. This special brew can be served chilled during the hot summer season or as a warm drink during the cold winter season.

Learn more about the art of Japanese cuisine with JC Uni-Tec at jcuni-tec.com.