This time, I would like to introduce you to sake vessels.
We will tell you a wide range of information, including what types of sake vessels there are, their history, how to choose them, and recommended products!
I want to try sake, but what kind of container should I use?
I want to give a sake cup as a present, but I don't
know what to choose...
If that's the case, why not refer to this article and find the perfect sake cup?
I want to see what products are available first! If so, please take a look here.
It's fun to know! How to choose sake vessels
Select by size (capacity/aperture)
The taste of sake vessels changes depending on their depth (capacity) and caliber.
It's a good idea to choose
one that matches your favorite alcoholic beverage.
・Small ones
A small sake cup with a small capacity allows you to finish drinking before the temperature of the alcohol changes, so
you can enjoy the most delicious sake.
For this reason, it is recommended to drink cold sake in a small sake
cup.
If you use a large pot, it will become lukewarm and you will lose the sharp flavor of cold sake.
・Large one
If you want to enjoy the change in taste as the temperature gradually decreases, such as hot sake, a large sake cup is
also a good option.
・Enjoy the change in aroma depending on the size of the caliber
Since the ease with which
alcohol releases its aroma changes depending on the surface area, the aroma will change if the caliber of the sake cup
is different.
The wider the caliber, the stronger the fragrance will be felt, so if you want to enjoy the scent,
choose a wide one.
Select by shape
Bowl type
The bowl-shaped sake cup with a rounded body is a classic form.
You can enjoy the taste and aroma just right, so
it is suitable for tasting a variety of brands.
Trumpet type
A trumpet-shaped drinker with an upwardly extending spout.
The wide diameter makes it easy for the scent to
spread through the air, making it suitable for those who want to enjoy the scent.
You can also serve small
appetizers and use it as tableware.
Bud type
The bud type has a round body and tapers towards the mouth.
Air tends to accumulate in the concave part, and
when you put your mouth on it, you will feel a strong scent.
Recommended if you want to enjoy a rich fragrance.
Straight type
Straight type has a straight shape from the body to the spout.
Because the mouth is narrow and the distance to
the nose is far, it is difficult to perceive the scent compared to other shapes.
However, the advantage is that you can drink it with a refreshing feeling.
If the alcohol has a distinctive
aroma, the aroma will be milder and easier to drink.
Select by material
・Ceramics
Ceramics soften the taste of sake.
Because it is thick, it has a good texture and texture.
It has low
thermal conductivity, making it difficult to heat up and cool down, making it especially suitable for hot sake.
・Glass
The tasteless and odorless glass allows you to directly feel the taste of sake.
Also, you can enjoy the
different tastes depending on the thickness, such as the sharp Daiginjo sake (thin one) and the thicker one (Nigori
sake).
In recent years, it has become popular to enjoy sake in a wine glass.
We also sell wine glasses specifically for
sake, so you can enjoy the color and aroma.
When you drink sparkling sake, you can watch the bubbles rise and
enjoy it with your eyes.
・Lacquerware
It is suitable for sake vessels because it is light, easy to lift, and has a good texture.
It also has excellent
heat retention, so it doesn't get cold easily.
Because of its luxurious feel, it is often used for celebrations.
The more you use it, the more gloss it becomes, and you can enjoy the changes over time.
・Wood
You can feel the faint scent of wood, which brings out the flavor and aroma of the sake.
It's light and pleasant
to the touch, and its warm, rustic texture is also appealing.
Many masu are made of cedar or cypress, and you
can enjoy the flavor that combines the aroma of wood and sake.
・Tin
Tin has a coarse molecular structure, so it is said to break down the unpleasant flavors of sake and round out its
flavor.
If you warm the sake in a tin sake cup, it will have a mellow texture and will be more delicious.
It has high thermal conductivity, so it is suitable when you want to enjoy it slowly while it is still warm.
Since it heats up in a short time, it also has the advantage of being able to warm up the sake without losing the
aroma of the sake. However, it also cools down quickly, so it is best to choose a smaller sake cup when drinking.
If you're having trouble, we recommend this!
3-piece Sake Set White | Mino Ware
3-piece set: sake bottle, choko mouthpiece, and small plate.
If you have a sake set that allows you to enjoy
alcohol and snacks, you will look forward to drinking every evening.
Comes in a gift box, making it perfect as a
gift.
The warm beige-tinged white pottery goes well with other pottery.
A sake bottle with a slightly unusual shape
will be an accent to your table.
It would also be nice to display it as a single flower vase.
Also, the choko can be used as a small bowl for snacks or a tea utensil, and the small plate can also be used for other purposes, such as a bowl or a sweets plate.
Sake carafe,Tokkuri recommendations
Sake Carafe Tokkuri Blue Arabesque | Hasami Ware
A bowl with a blue arabesque pattern on white porcelain that gives you a Japanese feel that is suitable for sake.
The dyed sake bottles, which are often seen in Japanese households, go well with other utensils, making them a
perfect addition to the dining table.
The capacity is about one cup, perfect for one person.
The center is slightly concave, so it fits perfectly in
your hand when pouring, making it easy to use.
Also, the small mouth and clean shape can be used as a single flower vase.
The design is not too overpowering,
so it also goes well with Western-style flowers such as dried flowers.
Sake Carafe Tokkuri Purple Cloisonne | Hasami Ware
A sake carafe with a cute gourd-like shape.
The cloisonne pattern on the top and the blue
line on the bottom make a nice accent.
The center is tightly constricted, so it feels stable when held in your hand.
If you match it with the matching
sake cup, you can enjoy a modern Japanese table coordination.
The cloisonne pattern is an auspicious pattern that means harmony and relationships, so it is also good to use it on special occasions such as New Year's Day. It is also wonderful to insert flowers such as southern sky.
We also recommend using it with a matching sake cup.
Katakuchi Small Bowl Red Butterfly | Hasami Ware
A Katakuchi with a gorgeous bold painting on the surface.
If you look closely, the center part is concave and fits your finger!
This allows you to pour alcohol smoothly
with one hand.
The butterflies painted in red on the entire surface are all hand-painted.
The back side also has a pattern
drawn on it, giving you a sense of the craftsman's careful handiwork.
Also, the Katakuchi can be used as a container for sauces and other condiments, small bowls, etc.
Choko recommendations
Sake Cup Guinomi Kohiki | Shigaraki Ware
A container with a simple appearance.
The brown border is accented on the white background.
The black dots that look like patterns are made of iron powder, giving it a warm feel that can only be achieved by hand.
The inside is white, so you can enjoy the color of the alcohol.
Since they are deep, it would be a good idea to
pour sake into one and use the other as a small bowl for snacks.
You can also use it as a dessert cup or a tea set for Chinese tea.
Inside Kohiki Shot Cup Ceramic Hakka Kiln Yoshinaga Sadamu
A stylish cup with a contrast between the dark brown outside and the white inside.
The striped relief pattern on
the surface not only has a beautiful design, but also provides an excellent fit when held in the hand.
In
addition, there are traces of glaze running in some places, which gives you a sense of the quality of handmade work,
as no two pieces are the same.
It's thick, so it's perfect for hot sake.
Sake vessels with calm tones that complement the ingredients may also
be used as small bowls.
Nebuta Sake Glass Sakazuki | Tsugaru Vidro
Vibrantly colored pottery reminiscent of Nebuta.
The colorful glass particles scattered at the bottom look like
beads.
Glass sake vessels allow you to enjoy the taste of alcohol as it is.
It's a little thick so it has
a good texture, and the small size is perfect for drinking cold sake!
The gorgeous glassware can also be used as a small bowl for serving snacks and appetizers.
It's compact and can
be used in a variety of ways, so it's convenient to have several.
Main types of sake vessels
Sake utensils are the general term for containers for drinking and pouring sake, and include the following.
Choko
Originally it was a container for serving food, but since the Edo period it has been used as a sake vessel. It is often used as a set with a sake bottle, and is generally large enough to be drunk in one bite.
The origin of the word choko is "choku," which means something small, and "choku," which means simple and straightforward.
Guinomi
They are generally larger than a choko, and some are as big as a teacup.
It is said that the origin of the word
is "gulp down" or "gulp and drink".
Sakazuki
A traditional sake cup used in rituals such as Shinto rituals, with a small mouth shaped like a morning glory.
It was also used as a container.
It is also used for New Year's toso, Shinto ceremonies,
San-san-kudo(exchange cups of sake at wedding）and gift cups.
Tokkuri
A sake cup for pouring alcohol into a sake cup. It is characterized by a narrow neck and a bulging body.
It is
said that it got its name from the "tokutoku" sound it makes when poured sake.
Originally, some were
large because they were used to store and transport things like soy sauce and vinegar, but today the most common ones
have a capacity of 1 to 2 go (180 to 360 ml).
Katakuchi
A container for pouring alcohol into a sake cup, with a spout on one side of the rim.
It has a long history and
can be seen in the pots and bowls of Jomon and Yayoi pottery.
Nowadays, it is sometimes used as a container for
seasonings such as sauces, small bowls, and flower vases.
Chirori
A cylindrical sake cup with a handle and spout, used to heat sake.
Many are made of metal such as copper or tin,
and are characterized by high thermal conductivity.
The ease of use is also attractive, as you can pour warmed
sake as is.
Choshi
A container for pouring alcohol into a sake cup. It is made of wood or metal and has a long handle.
It is used
at special drinking parties such as the Shinto wedding ceremony San-san-kudo.
History of sake vessels
○Nara period
Sue ware was used on a daily basis, and the vessels for drinking alcohol came to be called tsuki or sakazuki.
○Heian period
In the Heian period, wooden lacquerware cups, especially those painted in vermilion, became widespread.
Gorgeous
ceramic cups also began to be used at the imperial court.
○Kamakura period to Edo period
During the Kamakura period, pottery technology developed. Sake vessels began to be actively produced in each of Japan's six ancient kilns (Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tamba, Bizen, and Echigo).
Chanoyu was popular during the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
Guinomi is said to have originated when samurai began
drinking sake in mukozuke (small bowls) during tea kaiseki ceremonies.
During the Edo period, the size of sake vessels changed depending on the type of sake.
In the early days,
"Doburoku" with a low alcohol content was drunk, and the mukozuke, which had a large capacity and had a diameter of
about 10 cm, was used.
As sake with a high alcohol content became popular, the caliber of sake vessels became
smaller, such as mukozuke (about 7.5 cm) in the mid-Edo period and choko around 4.5 cm in the late Edo period.
○After the Meiji period
In the Meiji period, tea ceremony masters and businessmen began to collect sake cups from all over the country, and the large and deep ones came to be called "Guinomi".
During the Showa period, sake brewing changed to low-priced, mass-produced products due to post-war material
shortages.
As a result, simple products such as inexpensive sake vessels and plastic boxes were made.
On
the other hand, after 1970, a culture emerged where people could enjoy high-quality sake using sake vessels made by
artists and antiques.
About sake bottles
A tokkuri is a sake cup with a narrow neck and a bulging bottom. Used to pour alcohol into a sake cup.
The
origin of the word is said to come from the sound "tokutoku" (or "tokuritokuri") made when pouring sake.
Materials vary, including ceramics, glass, and tin.
The most common sizes are 1 go (180ml) and 2 go (360ml), but
there are also larger ones that can hold 1 sho (1.8l).
Since when have sake bottles been used?
Tokkuri came into use around the latter half of the Muromachi period.
Initially, it seems to have been used
for transporting and storing sake, soy sauce, etc.
During the Edo period, there was a system called "kayoi-tokkuri," a system in which liquor stores filled sake bottles
with the store's name written on them and lent the bottles to customers.
Until the early Showa era, it was
common to sell alcohol in sake bottles.
How to wash sake bottles
The following are precautions for washing each material.
・Ceramics
After use, soak the container in hot water for a while to remove the alcohol components that have soaked into it.
Then, use a long thin brush to wash.
There are brushes specifically designed for cleaning sake bottles,
but you can also use a spout brush for teapots, etc.
After washing, be sure to dry thoroughly to prevent mold.
Place paper that won't tear easily, such as kitchen
paper, inside to make it dry faster.
・Glass
For glass sake bottles, soak them in dish detergent diluted with water and rinse thoroughly.
If you are
concerned about cloudiness, soak it in baking soda diluted with hot water to clear it.
Also, we do not recommend
using a brush as it may cause scratches.
・Made of metal such as tin
Since it is easily dented and damaged, wash it with a soft sponge and mild dish detergent.
If it becomes cloudy,
wash it with baking soda, just like you would with glass items.
Do you know? Manners when using sake bottles
Etiquette when offering drinks
When pouring sake (giving sake) using a sake bottle, hold the center with your right hand and support it with your
left hand.
At that time, be careful not to let the sake bottle touch the sake cup.
If you twist your right
wrist a little when you finish pouring, you can prevent the water from dripping.
Also, the amount to be poured is about 70 to 80% of the size of the cup.
It is considered bad manners to pour it
all over.
・Peeking sake bottle: Peeking through the hole to see how much content is left
・Furi sake bottle: Shaking the sake bottle strongly to check the amount of alcohol
・Mixed sake bottle: Gathering the remaining sake into one sake bottle
・Toppled sake bottle: Toppling over an empty sake bottle that has been drunk
Also, it is best to avoid pouring it into the other person's cup on the table without permission.
Etiquette when receiving drinks
When someone offers you a drink, the basic rule is to hold the sake cup with both hands.
Pouring the water while it is still in the water is called "Pour it down" and is considered bad
manners.
Hold the sake cup firmly between your right thumb and index finger, and place your middle and ring fingers on the bottom. Place your left hand on the bottom to support it.
When someone pours you a drink, it is good etiquette to put it on the table after touching it.
What is choko?
Choko is a sake cup for enjoying sake, and is often used together with sake carafe,Tokkuri.
Originally, it
was used to serve foods such as aemono and vinegared dishes.
From the mid-Edo period onwards, it began to be
used for things like sake vessels and noodle soup.
Origin of choko
Choko was originally called "choku", and there are various theories about its origin, as listed below.
Also, the
notation "Choko" seems to be a guess.
《Origin of choko》
・Because sake cups were called “chong” in China
・It was taken from
the vessel called choko that was used in the “honzen cuisine” eaten by samurai families
・It comes from
“chottoshitamono” which means a small amount
・It is related to “choku” which expresses lack of decoration and
simplicity
How to use choko
Choko is a small but deep container with a large capacity.
If you have a choko cup that you are not using, why
not try the following method?
Use as a small bowl
The choko mouth is deep, so it is suitable for storing small side dishes such as ohitashi, pickles, and marinade.
Just by arranging a few on a platter, you can serve as a one-plate appetizer for hospitality.
Used as a tea cup
Most of the choko cups are around 5cm in diameter.
It is also suitable for enjoying Chinese tea, etc., which has
a strong taste and aroma.
Use as accessory case
The choko is also convenient for storing small items such as accessories and sweets.
I once put it in a drawer
to store buttons.
Use as a vase
You can fill the choko with water, so you can use it as a vase by placing one or two flowers in it.
How about
arranging flowers from your garden as an accent to your dining table?
In addition to this, some people enjoy making mini bonsai by putting small moss balls in the pot, and others use them as containers for pincushions.
About guinomi, choko, and sakazuki
Before we discuss the differences between guinomi, choko cups, and sake cups(sakazuki), we will explain what kind of vessels they are and their characteristics.
What is Guinomi?
Guinomi is a sake cup with a deep bottom and a wide diameter.
It is said that its origin comes from the words
"gulp" and "grasp and drink."
Generally, most of the drinks are large enough to not be able to be swallowed in one or two bites, so they are
suitable for dividing into several bites.
Recommended if you want to enjoy the taste of alcohol that changes
depending on the temperature.
What is choko?
It is smaller than a guinomi and is large enough to drink the entire drink in one or two sips.It is often used together with a sake carafe.
It is said that its origin is a corruption of the word "choku".
It is said that the origin of the word is
"choku," which means something small, and "choku," which refers to something simple and simple.
What is sakazuki?
It is a shallow sake cup shaped like a small plate, and is characterized by a small elevated platform.
Generally, the capacity is between the size of a small choko and a small cup.
Although it is used on a daily basis, it is also used in rituals such as Sansankudo at weddings and when drinking toso at New Year's Day.
In the end, how should I use them properly?
Sake vessels differ not only in size and shape, but also in materials and designs.
Therefore, it is best to
choose what you like.
However, if you are really confused, please use the following points as a guide.
○If you want to drink cold sake or ginjo sake ⇒Choko
If you want to enjoy cold sake or enjoy the
rich aroma, a small choko is suitable.
○If you want to enjoy the change in taste due to temperature, such as hot sake, ⇒ Guinomi
If you
want to enjoy the difference in taste due to temperature, we recommend a large size Guinomi!
Also, if you often
drink alcohol with multiple people, it would be a good idea to have several sake cups.
○If you value enjoying the aroma, then go for a sakazuki
A sake cup with a wide mouth is ideal
for enjoying the aroma as it increases the surface area of the sakel.
It is convenient because it can be
used in a wide range of situations, from formal occasions such as celebrations to casual gatherings with close
friends.
Table Coordination with Sake Cups
Table Coordination for Hale Day
The combination of the cloisonne-patterned sake set and colored plates is an appropriate coordination for festive
occasions such as New Year's.
The simple design of the sake cups makes them stand out even more.
The simplicity of the sake cups makes the gorgeous patterned vessels stand out even more.
Also, by arranging the
sake set on a tray, it is easier to entertain guests.
It's an idea that can be quickly imitated.
The table is decorated with red painted vessels.
The chrysanthemum-shaped chopstick rest is a symbol of
longevity, while the gourd-shaped chopstick rest is for good luck.
The table is full of good-luck items, perfect for New Year's, family gatherings, and other special occasions.
The
kataguchi can be used to hold a bottle of toso for the New Year's holiday, For Christmas, you can use it to hold salad
dressings, etc.
Table Coordination for Enjoying Evening Drinks
This is a table coordinate for enjoying dinner with Japanese set menus.
The reason why so many patterned vessels
are combined together is because they all share the common color of blue.
If you want to combine patterned dishes, choose dishes that have one color in common to create a unified table.
In particular, there is a lot of blue tableware, so try combining various types of tableware with blue in them.
This is a table for enjoying one-plate snacks and sake with a few side dishes on a platter.
The table is based on white and brown, a simple yet warm table coordinate.
Although the vessels are made by
different makers, they are all made of ceramics and have the same color palette, creating a cohesive table.
Combining items that have something in common, such as materials or colors, creates a sense of unity.
Please give
it a try.
I want it even if I can't drink alcohol! Enjoy your meals more with sake cups
Have you seen that there are many different types of sake cups, depending on their use?
Furthermore, you can
enjoy changes in taste and aroma depending on the size, shape, and material.
Also, they are deep and have a wide variety of designs and shapes, It is also a convenient item that can be used as a drinking vessel.
For those who love to drink, you can use it for a better cup of sake, If you are not a drinker, why not choose the best sake cups to accent your dining table or for entertaining?
The sake cups introduced in this issue can be found here.
If you want to know more about sake cups, please read this article.
・The Difference Between Guinomi, Choko, and Sakazuki: A Guide to Choosing Sake Cups
・How to Choose a Sake Carafe Tokkuri : Etiquette and Recommended Items for Enjoying Sake
・A Guide to Choko: How to Choose and Recommended Items for Sake Lover
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
We wish you a wonderful time with your favorite vessels.
Here is the link to the UTSUWABI website