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How To Serve And Drink Sake

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How To Serve And Drink Sake

Serve and Drink Sake. Want to try Sake but are too afraid. Don't fear, follow our simple guide to the correct way to enjoy this Japanese favourite. Serve and Drink Sake. Want to try Sake but are too afraid. Don't fear, follow our simple guide to the correct way to enjoy this Japanese favourite.

Sake is a Japanese rice wine. In Japan there are some traditions surrounding the way it is served and drunk. They are not always followed outside of Japan, but they are worth knowing so that you can be polite.

Step 1: Warming sake

Sake is served in a small flask called a tokkuri. Place the full tokkuri in boiling water until it is about body temperature. Only very expensive sake is served chilled.

Step 2: Serving sake

Hold the tokkuri with both hands palms facing down. Fill each guest's cup in turn. Don't fill your own. It's the guests' duty to ensure that the host's cup is full.

The correct cup to use is a small handle less one called an ochoko.

In formal situations you should hold up the cup with one hand, and support the bottom of it with the other as the sake is being served to you

Step 3: Drinking sake

Sake is very potent, the done thing is to sip it slowly. Its not a shot – don't down it in one!

Step 4: Done

Cheers, or as they say in Japan, Kampai!

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Tips & Comments
  1. lemusic145

    lol its not a shot don't down it in one :D

  2. Knatchwa

    Good Information and to the point, I don't correct I am just exploring what is sake even with my limited knowledge. At a restaurant I used to work at we served sake similarly to how you mention in this tutorial. THanks for offering the Insight.

  3. malaxxe

    I've been to Japan, drunk Sake there and done Japanese A-Level (A grade) and I'm pretty sure it's pronounced 'SAA KAY' Also, it's Kampai not Kampei... But bizarrely it's pronounced correctly by the narrator. Apart from that, this tutorial is very factually correct, I enjoyed it!

  4. phoenix988

    very good video,even other viewer thinks maybe there are some mistakes... well, who dosen't make mistake, never mind, well done.

  5. Anonymous

    sake iz gooD foolz. check it dawg.

  6. Anonymous

    pretty cool video..thanks for the information.

  7. Anonymous

    This was great info! My friend and I love saki , we are enjoying the warm potenent saki right now Yahhhh to saki:)

  8. Anonymous

    This is just a basic guide to etiquette and is very flexible. When socially drinking in Japan, you should never fill your own glass no matter what you are drinking. When in the home feel free to fill your own. The mispronunciation of "sake" in this video really bugs me though.

  9. Anonymous

    good video

  10. Anonymous

    expensive sake also tastes amazing warm ifact i dont understand it cold r.i like it close to hot . i would prefer a good old dram of fine scotch though witha bit of haggis on toast.