mrsake_vol5

VOL.5 BEST SELECTION BY MR. NAOYA NAMISATO CAN SAKE PAIR WITH HONG KONG FOOD?

On a freezing day, is there anything better than having a Chinese hotpot? Yes, having one with a nice drink. However, aren’t beer or wine too common? Why not try sake? In fact, sake and hotpot can create a perfect harmony, and last week, Saketora invited Mr. Naoya Namisato, a professional sake sommelier, to a hotpot party where we had 4 different types of soup with 4 kinds of Daiginjo sake. Let’s check the report to see which sake goes the best with hotpot!

Selected Sakes

Taiheizan,
Tenko Junmai Daiginjo
(Leftmost)
Mellow, slightly dry, rich, fruity with the notes of rice
Hakutaka,
Daiginjo Aged 15
(Rightmost)
Yellow-gold hue, smooth with the hints of nuts, caramel, toast and cereal
Kamoshibito Kuheiji, Junmai Daiginjo Omachi
(Second from the left)
Grassy, acid, mineral with a little bit astringency on the finish



Fukuchitose,
Junmai Daiginjo
(Second from the right)
Yamahai sake with pleasant lactic acid and the hints of white flower


Chicken Soup – Taiheizan Wins
Rich and savory, chicken soup is the most common broth for hotpot and can bring out the sweetness in meat and vegetables. A fruity sake seems the best match. With the notes of melon, Taiheizan Tenko goes so well with the soup as its sweetness can complement the saltiness in the soup with its dry finish cutting through the oiliness. Kuheiji Omachi is lighter, fresher and more earthy, so it can strike a balance with the soup but cannot add as much complexity as Tenko. Fukuchitose is quite fruity with pleasant lactic acid, so it also pairs nicely with the soup. But since it is relatively intense, it may even go better with fattier soup like pork broth. Hakutaka is the most robust and complex sake tonight, so soup with more spices will be a greater pair.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★★★   
Kuheiji Omachi ★★★★☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★☆   
Hakutaka ★★★☆☆
Chicken Soup –
Taiheizan Wins
Rich and savory, chicken soup is the most common broth for hotpot and can bring out the sweetness in meat and vegetables. A fruity sake seems the best match. With the notes of melon, Taiheizan Tenko goes so well with the soup as its sweetness can complement the saltiness in the soup with its dry finish cutting through the oiliness. Kuheiji Omachi is lighter, fresher and more earthy, so it can strike a balance with the soup but cannot add as much complexity as Tenko. Fukuchitose is quite fruity with pleasant lactic acid, so it also pairs nicely with the soup. But since it is relatively intense, it may even go better with fattier soup like pork broth. Hakutaka is the most robust and complex sake tonight, so soup with more spices will be a greater pair.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★★★   
Kuheiji Omachi ★★★★☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★☆   
Hakutaka ★★★☆☆
Soup with Coriander and Century Egg – Fukuchitose Wins
Coriander has a fresh, grassy flavor while century egg has a distinct metallic taste. Interestingly, the fruitiness and floralness in Tenko can complement the grassiness in coriander, and the dry mouthfeel can also help refresh the palate. Kuheiji Omachi is earthy, so it goes well with the soup, but the impact is not as stunning as Tenko. Fukuchitose is rich in umami, which does a harmony with the egg, and more amazingly, the lactic acid goes excellently with the grassiness, leaving me a great impression. Hakutaka has a soft nutty flavor, which balances so well with the umami in the egg. However, as it is robust, it may pair better with a more concentrated, flavorful soup.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★★☆
   Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Fukuchitose ★★★★★   Hakutaka ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Soup with Coriander and Century Egg –
Fukuchitose Wins
Coriander has a fresh, grassy flavor while century egg has a distinct metallic taste. Interestingly, the fruitiness and floralness in Tenko can complement the grassiness in coriander, and the dry mouthfeel can also help refresh the palate. Kuheiji Omachi is earthy, so it goes well with the soup, but the impact is not as stunning as Tenko. Fukuchitose is rich in umami, which does a harmony with the egg, and more amazingly, the lactic acid goes excellently with the grassiness, leaving me a great impression. Hakutaka has a soft nutty flavor, which balances so well with the umami in the egg. However, as it is robust, it may pair better with a more concentrated, flavorful soup.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★★☆
Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Fukuchitose ★★★★★
Hakutaka ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Satay Soup – Fukuchitose Wins
Satay is pungent, savory with the flavors of garlic and coconut, so a fuller-bodied sake with higher complexity will create a better harmony. Fukuchitose is creamy and milky, so it makes a perfect balance with the flavors of coconut. Together with its hints of white peach and acidity, it can also help cleanse the palate, making itself an excellent combination with the soup. Hakutaka has the hints of caramel and almond, so it can complement the soup. Meanwhile, Tenko is aromatic with enough structure, so although it cannot add more complexity to Satay, it is not overwhelmed. As for Kuheiji, it is the lightest sake tonight, so even though it can co-exist with the soup, it does not make enough surprise.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★☆☆(3.5)
   Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★★   Hakutaka ★★★★☆
Satay Soup –
Fukuchitose Wins
Satay is pungent, savory with the flavors of garlic and coconut, so a fuller-bodied sake with higher complexity will create a better harmony. Fukuchitose is creamy and milky, so it makes a perfect balance with the flavors of coconut. Together with its hints of white peach and acidity, it can also help cleanse the palate, making itself an excellent combination with the soup. Hakutaka has the hints of caramel and almond, so it can complement the soup. Meanwhile, Tenko is aromatic with enough structure, so although it cannot add more complexity to Satay, it is not overwhelmed. As for Kuheiji, it is the lightest sake tonight, so even though it can co-exist with the soup, it does not make enough surprise.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★★
Hakutaka ★★★★☆
Sichuan Spicy Soup – Hakutaka Wins
Spicy hot soup is the riskiest choice for sake pairings, but it would be so intriguing to see the results. Hakutaka is silky and rich in umami with the flavors of cereal and milk, so it not only can balance the heavy spices and intensity of the soup, but create a harmony, arousing your appetite. Fukuchitose shows rich lactic acid, but is lighter in body, so it is good but not as outstanding as Hakutaka. And I reckon it would be better to serve it warmed since it can increase the perception of umami. Tenko is fruity and structured but lacks umami, so even though it can strike a balance with the spicy soup, it cannot enrich it. Kuheiji is comparatively light, so chicken soup might be a better choice for it.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★☆☆(3.5)
   Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★☆   Hakutaka ★★★★★
Sichuan Spicy Soup –
Hakutaka Wins
Spicy hot soup is the riskiest choice for sake pairings, but it would be so intriguing to see the results. Hakutaka is silky and rich in umami with the flavors of cereal and milk, so it not only can balance the heavy spices and intensity of the soup, but create a harmony, arousing your appetite. Fukuchitose shows rich lactic acid, but is lighter in body, so it is good but not as outstanding as Hakutaka. And I reckon it would be better to serve it warmed since it can increase the perception of umami. Tenko is fruity and structured but lacks umami, so even though it can strike a balance with the spicy soup, it cannot enrich it. Kuheiji is comparatively light, so chicken soup might be a better choice for it.
MATCH RATE
Taiheizan Tenko ★★★☆☆(3.5)
Kuheiji Omachi ★★★☆☆
Fukuchitose ★★★★☆ 
Hakutaka ★★★★★
Tips
Tips to Sake Pairings with Hotpot: Balance of Intensity & Serving Temperature
Matching sake with hotpot is fun and the pairings can hardly disappoint you. However, how much they surprise you depends on if you can master two tips – balance of intensity and serving temperature. While a light sake goes better with a light soup, an intense sake goes better with an intense soup. Overall, a Yamahai Junmai Ginjo is usually rich in umami and fruity, so it would be the safest and easiest pair. Besides, serving temperature is what we need to think of. Most of us chill a sake before drinking, but in fact, it might retain the aromas and flavors. Since our taste bud becomes less sensitive when eating hot food like hotpot, we may find it more difficult enjoying the original taste of the sake. So, when having a hotpot with sake next time, in order to enjoy a better experience of food pairing, let’s try to just drink it slightly chilled or at room temperature!
Tips
Tips to Sake Pairings with Hotpot: Balance of Intensity & Serving Temperature
Matching sake with hotpot is fun and the pairings can hardly disappoint you. However, how much they surprise you depends on if you can master two tips – balance of intensity and serving temperature. While a light sake goes better with a light soup, an intense sake goes better with an intense soup. Overall, a Yamahai Junmai Ginjo is usually rich in umami and fruity, so it would be the safest and easiest pair. Besides, serving temperature is what we need to think of. Most of us chill a sake before drinking, but in fact, it might retain the aromas and flavors. Since our taste bud becomes less sensitive when eating hot food like hotpot, we may find it more difficult enjoying the original taste of the sake. So, when having a hotpot with sake next time, in order to enjoy a better experience of food pairing, let’s try to just drink it slightly chilled or at room temperature!