An Introduction to Sake: Types, Grades, and Food Pairings

When you go out for Japanese food, or if you’ve had the pleasure of going directly to Japan for a truly authentic experience, you might be inclined to order sake. 

This traditional Japanese beverage, made from fermented rice, predates recorded history. Even with its lengthy past, like wine, it can still be a mysterious and misunderstood beverage.

Have you ever wondered how to make the most of sake while dining? Understanding more about what sake is, the qualities it can have, and how to pair food flavours with it may just make sake your favourite beverage to order when dining anywhere in the world. 

What Is Sake?

If you’re new to the world of Japanese cuisine and spirits, sake is actually called nihonshu in Japanese. Sake can refer to liquor in general, while nihonshu specifically refers to what most people outside of Japan call sake.

This fermented beverage is made from rice, water, yeast, and koji, and usually has an alcohol content of around 14–16%. In some sakes, additional alcohol will be added to balance out flavours or to enhance the shelf life. 

While you’ll often see sake served hot in those lovely carafes at Japanese restaurants, it can be served cold, too. 

Some confusion seems to arise right around this point, for some sakes are best served chilled, while others need to be heated. Some have bolder, richer tastes, while others are lighter. 

Further complicating matters is that there are also different types and grades.

If you’ve ever gone for Japanese food in another country, you may have only been offered one type of sake, likely a hot one, that probably wasn’t as splendid of an experience as it could’ve been. 

Similar to wine pairings, if you make the mistake of ordering a sake that isn’t a match for what you’re eating, you’re likely to be disappointed. 

While there are so many intricacies to understand about sake, learning about some of the more common types, as well as some basic pairing tips, can bring you closer to enjoying this Japanese delight. 

Basic Types and Grades of Sake

Any decent establishment that serves sake will have an array of sakes on hand. If you’ve only had sake once or twice, this list can be a bit overwhelming.

Here’s a quick rundown on sake grades.

Junmai

Junmai sakes have a strong aroma and full-bodied character. Rice-influenced flavours with…