![]() ![]() Sake is a spirit made from rice which has undergone a long process of polishing andįermentation using a mold known as koji. In Japanese, ‘sake’ simply means ‘alcoholic drink’ so, to be more specific, you’ll want to ask for ‘nihonshu’ which literally translates to ‘Japanese alcohol’ though, more specifically, refers to what we know as sake: one of the most important Japanese drinks in existence. However, if you ask for sake at a bar in Japan you may be faced with some confusion. Internationally, sake is starting to be treated in the same way as wine or beer, and taken seriously as an artform in its own right. ![]() Probably one of the most famous Japanese alcoholic drinks (or Japanese drinks in general). This Japanese cocktail of oolong tea and shochu or lemon sour, also known as lemon chuhai, is a mixture of soda, shochu, and lemon or yuzu. Try: Oolong Hai is a shochu drink that needs to be tried when you visit Japan. Iichiko is one of the most popular shochu brands in Japan, producing over ten different types of the drink with varying smoothness and flavour. Shochu contains no sugar and has a lower alcohol content than vodka, making it much easier to drink over the course of a night out and even pairs well with meals making it a popular izakaya staple drink. The distilling process for Japanese shochu is more complex than that for vodka, and shochu can be distilled multiple times and even fermented or aged. These include rice and sweet potato, though the most common base for shochu is barley. What separates shochu from vodka is the fact that it is made with many different types of base. The national spirit of Japan, and easily one of the most iconic Japanese drinks, shochu is a clear, distilled spirit with similarities to vodka. ![]() Read More: A Guide to Japanese Kokeshi Dolls Shochu Try: The Japanese version of a Bloody Mary, the Red Eye Cocktail is a mixture of Japanese beer, tomato juice, and lemon (with the optional extras of a shot of vodka and raw egg). Sapporo Yebisu Beer - Considered a more upmarket beer with a slightly higher price tag than the others, this beer is made following strict and traditional German beer brewing techniques. ![]() Sapporo - From the northern island of Hokkaido, and named after the island’s capital city, black label Sapporo beer has a distinctive, mature taste that is popular with many. They also offer the unique Kirin Ichiban Shibori, which has a distinctive bittersweet taste and is also extremely popular. Kirin - An iconic label, Kirin’s pale larger is one of the oldest and most popular beers in Japan. Hitachino Nest Beer - Marked by it’s adorable squat bottle and colourful owl wrapping, this is one of the most popular Japanese craft beers currently on the market. Some typical Japanese beers and craft beers you will see in any izakaya or bar in Japan include:Īsahai Super Dry - A classic dry lager with the two favourable properties of being cheap and easy to drink. It’s customary to pour your drinking partner’s beer for them and vice versa. Instead, Japanese beer is enjoyed by the glass, straight from a larger shared bottle. You may notice immediately that it isn’t drunk in pints or steins like it typically is in Europe. LIke many drinks in Japan, there is some etiquette involved when drinking beer. In Japan, the capital of Tokyo and the second city of Osaka have very much taken the mantle of becoming craft beer hubs in Japan. Like in many countries around the world, the popularity of craft beer has skyrocketed in Japan, with a gradual increase in interest over the past twenty-five years or so. While Dutch beer was widely available, local commercial brands Sapporo and Kirin began production in the 1870s to meet the burgeoning demand (with other big brands Asahi and Suntory trailing not far behind). Japanese Beerįirst introduced to Japan by Dutch merchants at the former trading post Dejima in Nagasaki, during the Edo period. Here are all of the most famous must-try Japanese drinks, from Japanese whiskey to the best sake in Japan. Others, like sake, are uniquely Japanese alcoholic drinks. Many Japanese drinks are inspired by iconic Western drinks like whiskey and beer. Japanese alcoholic drinks exist on a broad and varied spectrum. And don’t forget to say kanpai! Japanese Alcohol The world of Japanese drinks is a wide open one with a lot of variety to explore, whether you’re looking for the best Japanese alcohol or just some delicious Japanese soda. ![]()
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