7 Sake Rice Wine Benefits

Delicious chilled sake from Morimoto Restaurant in Napa

How do you take your sake-hot or cold, Hiya or Atsukan? Hiya means cold style and you refrigerate not only the sake but also the tokkuri (the jar to hold the sake and the ochoko (the small cup to serve it in). For atuskan (heated style), the sake is heated in a pan with hot water and then pouring the sake into a tokkuri. Hot and cold sake are delicious!

Fun facts: Japanese sake has alcohol rates around 15-17%. This is quite higher than beer and wine. Even though sake is often called rice wine, its production has been similar to that of beer or a light spirit.

Flavors range from crisp and refreshing to floral and sweet. It pairs well with almost anything.

There are at least 7 health benefits to drinking Japanese sake in moderation. According to different sources:
1. Sake reduces the risk of having cancer
2. Prevents osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure & allergies to pollen, dust mites, and many foods. It features some compounds that inhibit an enzyme that triggers histamine response after routine consumption.
3. makes your skin become clearer, whiter and moisturized
4. High in amino acids and easy for your stomach to digest
5. Sake contains antioxidants called Ferulic acids, (powerful UV light absorber) possibly having an anti-ageing effect.
6. Helps you sleep deeper if taken before bed
7. It has peptides that can help reduce inflammation (which helps prevent all sorts of health issues).

History: This beverage has been consumed since around A.D. 400. While Belgian and Dutch Christian monks were brewing beer in Europe, Buddhist monks were creating sake in Japan.

Where to find it? Although some stores may sell it, like Costco, for sure Japanese restaurants will.

I love sake and recommend everyone try it at least once. If you don’t like the taste of it you can try adding it to your bath and enjoying the benefits that way. Great tips below.

See photos below for Sake bath tips & more of the health benefits of Sake.

Where to find great Sake in our region of Sonoma? Our favorite spots are Shige Sushi (Sonoma) & Morimoto Sushi (Napa). Costco has been known to sell a premium brand sake from Japan and of course at Asian Markets should have some.

Has this article been helpful?