In Japan, sake fairs and parties generally serve chilled sake. It is usually served at a cool temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Recently, Japanese people tend to drink various types of chilled sake. Originally, sake was stored in a refrigerator or storage to prevent deterioration in quality due to high summer temperatures, but before we knew it, it has become common to drink chilled sake at home and in restaurants. In addition, more and more sake requires refrigeration. Although there is a small demand for warm sake at sake fairs and parties, it is difficult to secure the space and personnel to warm the sake, so unless the booth is one that serves sake that is very particular about warming it, chilled sake is served. In addition, the sake served at such events is often premium sake such as ginjo and daiginjo, and many people believe that warming it will ruin the taste.
However, the act of warming sake is actually a sign of “hospitality.” It is an extra step for the drinker.
A few years ago, I attended a party hosted by the chairman (former president) of a famous sake brewery in Hiroshima. He brought various sakes made in his brewery to the venue and served them to the guests while explaining each sake. But to my surprise, halfway through the party, the chairman himself started to warm all the sakes, including ginjo and daiginjo. The guests were astonished by this. He continued, “Who said that warming ginjo or daiginjo will ruin the taste ? That’s just a misconception. Please try it.” Then he started serving the warmed sake. But this was not just entertainment. It was a kind of educational activity.
My impression was this. “Frankly delicious.” The umami flavor was enhanced. In Japanese, we express this as the taste expanding. I also thought that the temperature of each sake was exquisite. It was a technique that comes from the chairman’s experience.
Before we know it, we are trapped in the ways that have become mainstream due to our busy schedules and the need for efficiency. However, it is often only when we question them that we can make new discoveries and encounter elements that can only be reproduced the original way. An American friend once told me, “Think outside of the box!” It had been a long time since I remembered those words.
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