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Sake for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to sake
Order through Instacart to save time and money when shopping for your favorite brand of sake. Visit the Instacart app, add your sake of choice to your cart, and have it delivered in as little as 2 hours!
About sake
Sake is an alcoholic beverage originating from Japan and made from fermented rice. The four main ingredients that make sake are rice, water, yeast, and koji. Koji (Aspergillus Oryzae) is a bacterium that triggers fermentation by breaking down the starch in rice into glucose. Koji is also a vital determinant of the flavor and aroma of sake. The water used to make sake is very rich in minerals, adding a smooth and unique taste.
Sake is made using multiple parallel fermentation. The rice is not left to germinate, so enzymes are not produced. Instead, the microbes in koji break down the rice's starch molecules into glucose. Yeast is then added to convert the sugars to alcohol.
Types of sake
All types of sake have the same maturity period of between 9-12 months. Factors that distinguish them are alcohol composition, the kind of rice, and the degree of rice polish. Below, we discuss five types of sake that Instacart shoppers can add to their carts:
- Junmai: In Japanese, "junmai" refers to pure rice. Junmai sake is made from pure rice, which is polished up to 70%. There are no additives used to brew Junmai sake, which is purely brewed using rice, water, yeast, and koji, without adding alcohol or sugar. This type of sake has a full and solid flavor and is best served warm or at room temperature.
- Honjozo: Honjozo is made from rice polished up to 70%. Unlike Junmai, Honjozo contains extra pure distilled alcohol. The percentage of alcohol ranges between 14% and 16%. The alcohol added brings out more flavor and aroma from the sake. Honjozo is light and mildly fragrant, and shoppers can serve it chilled or warm.
- Daiginjo and Junmai Daiginjo: This is a premium type of sake derived from rice that is 50% polished. Although, some are polished up to 65%. The higher the polishing percentage, the better the quality of the Daiginjo. Daiginjo is also more costly and brings out the best of the brewer's skills. Daiginjo is best served chilled, which allows you to enjoy its nice and light texture and unique aromas and flavors. Junmaidaiginjo is Daiginjo made from pure rice.
- Ginjo and Junmai Ginjo: The rice used to make this type of sake is polished to at least 60%. Ginjo brewers use distinct fermentation techniques and a particular type of yeast. Thus, a light, fruity, and exceptionally fragrant flavor is achieved. Junmaiginjo is Ginjo brewed from pure rice.
- Futsuu: This is ordinary sake, and at times it is referred to as table sake or bulk sake. It is made by milling about 30% of the outer hull. Futsuu makes up about 80% of the market's sake, but the Japanese government does not regulate its production. As a result, it might contain numerous additives like pure distilled alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and colorings. Futsuu is cheaper compared to the other types of sake.
How to pick sake
Using the Instacart app allows you to choose from an array of sakes, but how do you determine which type buy? Below we highlight how shoppers can pick sake:
If you cannot see any graded label on the bottle, then the sake is of lower quality than other graded premium sakes. This means that the rice used to make it has not been polished enough to earn grading. Most of the sakes on the market are not graded, but shoppers still enjoy them for their unique flavors.
The flavor of the sake determines the pairing. Are you drinking it with food or without food? If with food, what type? Is it light or rich-flavored? For instance, Instacart shoppers can pair Honjozo, Daiginjo, and Ginjo sake with lightly flavored dishes such as sushi or other Japanese delicacies! For example, Junmai pairs well with richly flavored foods.
If you're drinking sake without food, choose one that will suit your mood. Daiginjo and Ginjo are good selections for special occasions. They are aromatic, fruity, and light for everyone to enjoy.
Sake Near Me
Buy your favorite Sake online with Instacart. Order Sake from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about sake
Sake's fermentation process is different from beer's, although grains are used in both methods. In terms of flavor, sake is more similar to wine but has a unique difference in brewing. Sake is incomparable to gin and spirits since it does not undergo any distillation.
The amount of alcohol in sake ranges between 14% and 16%.