In Japan, amazake (hot sweet sake) is sometimes served during the New Year’s visit to a shrine or the Girls’ Festival in March.
Contents:
Sweet Hot Drink, Amazake
Many of Japanese remember drinking a cup of hot amazake on a cold day around a bonfire, and feeling energy welling up inside us. Surprisingly, however, amazake is a seasonal word for summer. During the Edo era there were merchants who hawked amazake as a nutritional supplement during summer to people who were prone to exhaustion or lost their appetite due to the intense heat.
Amazake contains 20% or more of glucose and is a rich source of the vitamins so essential to a healthy life. When Aspergillus oryzae grows, vitamin B1, B2, B6, pantothenic acid, inositol, biotin and many other forms of naturally absorbed vitamins are produced and stored in the malted rice, and these vitamins are eluted into the amazake. Aspergillus oryzae also produces many varieties of enzymes such as proteolytic enzymes (protease) and lipolytic enzymes (lipase) and is therefore called the “treasure chest of enzymes.” The dietary fiber and oligosaccharide contained in the malt regulate the functions of the intestines to prevent or improve various unwanted conditions caused by irregular bowel movements such as constipation and rough skin. Additionally, they help rid the body of harmful substances.
By the way, did you know there are two types of amazake? One type is made from malt, and the other type is made from diluted sake lees. Many of you may believe that amazake is made from sake lees, but actually the true recipe uses malt. Amazake made from sake lees does not become sweet unless sugar is added, but the sweetness of amazake made from malted rice is not derived from added sugar. It comes from reducing the sugars (such as maltose and glucose) produced through the saccharification of starch in rice or glutinous rice by amylase, an enzyme contained in malted rice.
How to cook Amazake?
Amazake Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 5 cups)
Uncooked rice
3 3/4 cups water
10-1/2 oz. kome koji
Cooking Directions
- Wash rice in a net and set aside for 20 minutes.
- Put the rice and water into a rice cooker and make porridge.
- Mix the cooked rice well. Turn off the heat and wait until the porridge cools to 140°F.
- Add the kome koji to the rice and mix well. Using the keep warm mode on the rice cooker, heat for 6-8 hours with the lid slightly open to ferment. Mix every 2 hours.
- Transfer the mixture into a pot. Bring to a boil to stop fermentation.
- Transfer to a clean container. Allow it to cool; then store in the refrigerator for about one week.
Please Note:
- Koji mold is killed at 140°F, because it does not ferment.
- Because the finished product has a rough texture, blend it down for a smoother product.
- You may finish without boiling at the end (Step 5). It is possible to eat the amazake without stopping fermentation, but the acidity will be stronger so you should consume it quickly.
Recommended Amazake Products
This authentic amazake is made only from malted rice and rice. No preservatives or additives such as sugar are added. This is a traditional recipe, so it contains no alcohol. You don’t have to worry about your children drinking it!
Nijiya’s Organic Amazake
Nijiya’s special amazake is produced from organic ingredients. The malt in amazake is still alive, so Nijiya keeps this product in a freezer to maintain quality. The amazake, once defrosted, should be consumed within a week.
Kunigiku Amazake
This is an all-natural amazake made from 100% malted rice. It has the authentic taste created by a sake brewery. Please note that once the bottle is opened the amazake will quickly deteriorate. So, be sure to keep the bottle in a refrigerator and consume it within a week to 10 days. If you keep amazake too long, it will turn sour. You can still drink it, but it won’t taste good.
[Kurogome Amazake]
Kurogome (black rice), which is categorized as kodaimai (ancient rice), has been known since the old days as a grain that is beneficial to beauty and health. Enjoy the perfect sweetness and flavor produced through a combination of malt and kurogome.
[Hatsuga Genmai Amazake]
This amazake contains additional 10% of hatsuga genmai (germinated brown rice), which makes it a healthier drink. You can actually “chew” this tasty amazake!
Nijiya’s Sweet Potato Amazake
If you use sweet potato instead of rice, the amazake is even healthier. No sugar or alcohol is added, so even small children can enjoy sweet potato amazake! You can enjoy Sweet Potato Amazake as is, dilute it with water, or use as a topping for yogurt.
