Japanese Sake Education
Sake Production 101
Sake is made from rice, yeast, koji, and water. The quality of these components is paramount in premium sake production. For example, finished sake is comprised of roughly 80% water, so water composition and quality is extremely important to sake brewers. Traditional, small brewers are therefore always located near a great water source such as pure, deep wells, or underground streams.
This flowchart represents a step-by-step overview of the sake production process. Keep in mind that everything can vary in some degree based on the brewers' preferences and practices. To learn more, hover over each box below or download our VC Sake 101 Presentation here.