When buying Japanese sake , you will often see the words "Polished rice step together" on the wine label.
Rice polishing step means to remove excess fat and protein from wine rice , leaving only the starch in the center, which means "the brown rice used for wine making is ground to the percentage left".
For example: rice polishing step 35% means that 65% of the rice is polished off, leaving 35%.
The lower the number, the more has been worn away. Of course, the price is generally higher.
As for why we need to grind it? This starts with the rice specially used to brew Japanese sake.
The rice used to brew Japanese sake is very particular, and high-quality rice is the most authentic raw material for brewing sake. Ordinary edible rice can be said to be average at most, but is the only rice that can bring out the charm of sake to the extreme, also known as sake rice.
Sake-made good rice is of higher quality than ordinary sake rice. Of course, it is also more expensive. Sake rice is 3 to 8 times more expensive than ordinary edible rice. They generally have large and soft rice grains, less protein and fat, large and white hearts, thick starchy structures, easy production of distiller's yeast, and good water absorption.
The characteristics of good rice for sake brewing are summarized as follows:
· Large grains
· Xinbai, that is, the center part of the rice grains is rich in starch and is milky white
· Low protein content
Here, focus on the little guy "Xinbai" Come out and say it.
The proportion of "heart white" in rice grains is an important criterion for judging wine rice and edible rice. Generally, you will see an opaque white part in the center of the wine rice, which is the heart white.
This little guy's has a small protein content and high viscosity , which is helpful for yeast to penetrate the core of the rice grains during fermentation, and helps convert starch into sugar, making the fermentation process smoother.
According to statistics, there are more than 100 kinds of wine-making edible rice today. The wine rice produced in different places is also divided into different types, and the flavors produced are also different. Some sake breweries will also develop their own sake rice.
Next, Weijun will introduce you to some of the more well-known and representative sake rice varieties.
#1, Yamada Nishiki
Yamada Nishiki is called the "King of Sake Rice" . It has all the conditions for high-quality sake rice and is very suitable for highly refined grinding. is the highest-grade rice variety for brewing sake !
The wine brewed from Yamada Nishiki has a strong aroma and is also recognized as the best and most elegant wine. More than 80% of the Japanese sake that appears in sake appraisals is brewed by Yamada Nishiki.
Yamada Nishiki 90% comes from Hyogo Prefecture. Since its name, it has been the "King of Sake and Rice" for nearly 80 years.
Its rice grains are larger and heavier, with obvious white core and not easy to break, allowing for a higher degree of rice polishing. The white core has high viscosity and the rice grains have good water absorption. It has less protein and amino acids, so it is brewed with Yamada Nishiki. Wine has less odor. .
#2, Five Million Stones
The second in command of , , can be said to be one meter above (Yamada Nishiki) and below ten thousand meters. In Showa 32, it was named after Niigata Prefecture's rice production exceeded 5 million koku. is famous for its refreshing and elegant taste.
Although the five million stone heart white is larger and is not easy to use for more than 50 steps of rice polishing, it is also a very popular sake brewing rice because of the characteristics of that is easy to make !
#3, Miyama Nishiki
Miyama Nishiki is a "child" who grew up in the mountains. The main production area is Nagano Prefecture, and it is said to be a variety produced by sudden mutation. There are so many surprises in nature that you can’t even imagine!
It is very cold-resistant. Many varieties of sake-making rice grown in cold areas are descendants of Miyama Nishiki.
is big and plump. Like Five Million Stones, it belongs to the Liquor style of wine. The brewed wine is smooth and refreshing, without any sloppiness!
#4, Oomachi
Oomachi is known as "the ancestor of sake rice" . It has been cultivated since the late Edo period, and the main production area is in Oomachi Village (now Okayama Prefecture). There are more than 40 kinds of rice wine in Japan that are its descendants.
The sake brewed by it is rich, full-bodied and has a variety of taste levels, no less than Yamada Nishiki.
Because it can grow up to more than 160 centimeters, it is also one of the tallest varieties of Japanese sake rice..
However, is as tall as ! Its ears of rice are very heavy and are always "bent" under its own weight. The Japanese farmer is so annoyed. He spends most of his time straightening his waist, and the only thing left is to improve his back!
Because is troublesome to grow, it is difficult to grow , so the price of this guy is also high!
#5, Aishan
was born in 1941. created a brand new rice by mating two rice wines, "Love Boat" and "Shanxiong", and named this rice "Aishan". Mountain". This hybrid rice is said to have ancestors as well as Yamada Nishiki and Omachi .
The heart white of Aishan is larger, rich in protein, and easily dissolved in the wine mash. It brings a rich sweetness and umami flavor to the wine, and the taste is rich and rich.. However, it takes some time to sober up before the flavor can fully develop.
The 14th generation of the well-known sake brand likes to use Aishan!
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and above.
There are many types of sake rice. In addition to the above five common high-quality sake rice, there are also Akita Komachi, Dewa Cancan, Hua Xiang, Zhu, Yamada Sui, and Kameno which are also very famous.
However, Yamada Nishiki, Five Million Stones, and Miyama Nishiki among the many sake rices already account for two-thirds of the total output ! This also shows that these three kinds of wine rice are the most popular!
Knowing them will not only help you distinguish your favorite sake flavors, but also provide guidance for your sake purchase!
The higher the quality of rice wine, the more eye-catching it will be on the wine label!
Just like an old mother, you think your child can’t show off how good he is? !
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