Chocolate and Sake Vol. 2

Chocolates by Chika Watanabe © Shu Tomioka

In my last post, I talked about Nigori and chocolate, however, there are  many other types of sakes which make a superb companion to chocolate.  Let's have a look  at what other types of sakes can make a good pairing with chocolate.

1. Kijo-shu  (貴醸酒)​ 　
Kijoshu is a type of sweet sake with its history dating  back to Heian era (794-1185) which is made by adding finished sake (instead of water) during the brewing process.  The fermentation is brought to a halt by adding sake while the saccharification process keep making sugar(glucose), hence the Kijo-shu turn out to be sweet.   

• ​Hanahato Kijoshu 7 years  (Enoki-shuzo/ Hiroshima)- Pairs better with semi-sweet to bitter chocolate, as this sake has raisiny sweet sherry-like rich character due to 7 years aging.
• Hanahato Colombo Shiro-Koji   (Enoki-shuzo/ Hiroshima)- Made with white koji which contains lots of citric acids giving refreshing acidity.  Excellent with white chocolate cheese cakes as its lactic aroma and buttery round character goes so well with it.   

 2. Koshu (古酒）-Aged sake

• Daruma Masamune 10 years old (Shiraki Tsunesuke Shuten/Gifu) - Very sticky alcohol legs, rich medium brown in color and very viscous body. The acidity of the dark bitter chocolate worked beautifully with the characteristics of this special brew made with 7 different aged sake , neither being too sweet.  ​

3. Junmai Daiginjo (純米大吟醸）
​At least 50% of rice grain has been polished away with Junmai Daiginjo.  With elegant aroma and fruity character, it create a good match with chocolate with fruit-flavoured.  ​

• ​San Ran Junmai Daiginjo (Tonoike-shuzo- Tochigi) - This sake is a 'cleaner', less abrasive match for chocolate. Sharp finish keep cleansing the palette.

4. Sparkling (発泡酒)
Sparling sake is the hottest trend of sake world for its drinkable light taste especially among the sake novice. The style varies from carbonated one to bottle-fermented cloudy one with yeasty punch. ​

• ​Shochikubai Mio Sparkling (Takara/Hyogo) - This light fruity sparkling sake can go with white chocolate to dark chocolate, even with fruits-flavoured one. It works as a palette cleanser for dark chocolate, and it works as a great enhancement for fruit-flavoured chocolate.  
• Fukuju Awasaki Junmai sparkling (Kobe Shu-shin-kan/Hyogo) - Again, this type of cloudy sparkling sake is a good match with white chocolate due to it's yoghurt-like yeasty milky flavour.

​5. Nigori (にごり酒) - Cloudy Sake

• ​Sayuri (Hakutsuru/Hygo) - Sake from this region is known for 'masculine' style made with minerally hard water. This dry style of Nigori  (cloudy sake)  is a great complement for milky white chocolate. Imagine the flavour of chocolate cheese cake.