Foundation: Rice Flashcards by Henry Thorogood

For how long has sake-specific rice been grown?

Roughly the past 150 years

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How manore sake-specific rice strains are there?

More than 100

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What is the Japanese name for a sake-specific rice strain?

shuzō kōteki-mai

酒造好適米

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What is the advantage of shuzō kōteki-mai?

A high proportion of the grain’s starch forms at the centre of the grain.

This givers brewers greater control over how much of the outher husk’s protein to remove.

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What are some potential advantages of leaving some of the outer husk for brewers?

Aids in fermentation

Adds savoury layers to sake

Lower costs!

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What are the top five sake rice strains?

Yamada Nishiki 山田錦

Gohyakumangoku 五百万石

Miyama Nishiki 美山錦

Omachi 雄町

Dewasansan 出羽燦々

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Give the following information for Yamada Nishiki:

Prefecture of Origin

Lineage

Development Date

Registration Date

Prefecture of Origin: Hyōgo 兵庫県

Lineage:Yamada-bo x Tankan Wataribune

Development Date: 1923

Registration Date: 1936

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Give the following information for Gohyakumangoku:

Prefecture of Origin

Lineage

Development Date

Registration Date

Prefecture of Origin: Niigata 新潟県

Lineage: Kikusui x Shin no. 200

Development Date: 1938

Registration Date: 1957

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Give the following information for Miyama Nishiki:

Prefecture of Origin

Lineage

Development Date

Registration Date

Prefecture of Origin: Nagano 長野県

Lineage: Takane Nishiki + gamma radiation

Development Date: 1978

Registration Date: n/a

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Give the following information for Omachi:

Prefecture of Origin

Lineage

Development Date

Registration Date

Prefecture of Origin: Okayama 岡山県

Lineage: n/a

Development Date: 1859

Registration Date: 1866

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Give the following information for Dewasansan:

Prefecture of Origin

Lineage

Development Date

Registration Date

Prefecture of Origin: Yamagata 山形県

Lineage: Miyama Nishiki x Hanafubuki

Development Date: 1985

Registration Date: 1997

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Which rice strains are grown in every part of Japan?

None!

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Which prefectures have not developed local rice strains to suit their environs?

Tōkyō

Kagoshima

Okinawa

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What are the main THREE reasons for the diversity/multiplicity of rice used in sake-making?

Selection for different micro-climates across Japan
Breeding to compete with Yamada Nishiki
Broader trends towards ‘locality’ leading to the revival of heirloom varieties

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What is the North/South divide notable in rice strains?

The Northern rice strains (wase 早稲) bloom earlier and tend to be harder / more difficult to break down during fermentation

The Southern rice strains (okute 晩稲) bloom later and tend to be softer / easier to break down during fermentation

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Which varieties are examples of northern rice strains (wase 早稲)?

Gohyakumangoku 五百万石

Ginpū 吟風

Miyama Nishiki 美山錦

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Which varieties are examples of southern varieties (okute 晩稲)?

Yamada Nishiki 山田錦

Omachi 雄町

Hattan Nishiki 八反錦

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What do the characteristics of northern rice strains contribute to in terms of the final sake?

The light, tanrei karakuchi profile synonymous with Niigata

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What do the characteristics of southern rice strains lend themselves to in the final sake?

A deeper, softer flavour profile

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Which two varieties comprise more than half of sake rice under cultivation in Japan?

Yamada Nishiki 山田錦

Gohyakumangoku 五百万石

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Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Hokkaidō?

Ginpū 吟風

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Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Aomori?

Hanafubuki 花吹雪

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Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Akita?

Study These Flashcards

Akita Sake Komachi 秋田酒こまち

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Iwate?

Study These Flashcards

Ginginga 吟ぎんが

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Yamagata?

Dewasansan 出羽燦々

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Miyagi?

Kura no Hana 蔵の華

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Niigata?

Koshi Tanrei 越淡麗

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Fukushima?

Yume no Kaori 夢の香

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Nagano?

Miyama Nishiki 美山錦 Hitogokochi ひとごこち

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Shiga?

Tamasakae 玉栄

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Hyōgo?

Aiyama 愛山

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Okayama?

Omachi 雄町

Which rice strain(s) is/are important in its/their home prefecture of Hiroshima?

Hattan Nishiki 八反錦

Yamada Nishiki represents roughly how much of all saka-mai production?

30-33%

Does Yamada Nishiki have large or small grains?

Large grains, meaning it can reliably make high quality kōji

The flavours of Yamada Nishiki tend to be ____ and ____ with an ability to let the aromas produced by the yeast \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

The flavours of Yamada Nishiki tend to be **rich** and **deep** with an ability to let the aromas produced by the yeast **to shine through unhindered**

Yamada Nishiki's shinpaku is \_\_\_\_, \_\_\_\_\_, and shaped in an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. This makes it particularly suitable for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Yamada Nishiki's shinpaku is **large**, **well-defined**, and shaped in an **oval disk-like shape**. This makes it particularly suitable for **high polishing**.

Yamada Nishiki is the pre-eminent rice for ____ and _____ production, but is also used to great effect to produced rich, umami-filled _____ and ____ sake, particularly in its homeland of \_\_\_\_\_.

Yamada Nishiki is the pre-eminent rice for **ginjō** and **daiginjō** production, but is also used to great effect to produced rich, umami-filled **kimoto** and **junmai** sake, particularly in its homeland of **Hyōgo**.

Which prefecture is the preeminent producer of Yamada Nishiki, in both quality and quantity?

Hyōgo Prefecture 兵庫県

Gohyakumangoku accounts for roughly how much of all sakamai production?

25%

Does Gohyakumangoku have relatively large or small grains?

Smaller (than Yamada Nishiki's)

Gohyakumangoku lends its self to a _____ and ____ flavour profile, with ____ aromatics and a _____ finish

Gohyakumangoku lends its self to a **light** and **clean** flavour profile, with **light** aromatics and a ***kire*** **('cutting')** finish

The signature style of Niigata prefecture, called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, is in part due to Gohyakumangoku's attributes

The signature style of Niigata prefecture, called ***tanrei karakuchi*** **淡麗辛口**, is in part due to Gohyakumangoku's attributes

Gohyakumangoku's shinpaku is _____ and \_\_\_\_\_, which poses a challenge when \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, as it risks \_\_\_\_\_\_

Gohyakumangoku's shinpaku is **large** and **round**, which poses a challenge when **polishing beyond 50% seimai buai**, as it risks **cracking**

Which prefecture is the preeminent producer of Gohyakumangokue, in both quality and quantity?

Niigata Prefecture 新潟県

Within Hyōgo Prefecture, which districts/areas grow Gohyakumangoku?

Izushi District around the city of Toyoka

Why is Gohyakumangoku grown in northern Hyōgo, around the city of Toyoka?

The _**cooling effects** of the **Chūgoku range**_ and the **_influence of the Sea of Japan_** create a climate more suited to hardy Gohyakumangoku

What are SIX key factors to bear in mind when developing new rice strains?

1. Timing of Appearance of Ears / Ripening 2. Climate Resistance 3. Lodging Resistance (ability to stay rooted and not break in windy conditions) 4. Ability to reliably make high quality kōji 5. Yields 6. Disease Resistance

What do ideal soils for premium sake rice typically contain/not contain?

* Plenty of limestone, magnesium, and potassium * High clay content, retaining minerals and water * A lack of volcanic components

Is high or low diurnal range desirable for premium sake rice?

**High** diurnal range is desirable

Why did many heirloom varieties fall out of favour? Why can they now be brought back?

Often too difficult to grow and too large Improved agricultural techniques overcome prior barriers

Which important rice strain is presumed to be an off-shoot of Omachi?

Tankan Wataribune 短稈渡船

Which is the most prevalent Shiga Wataribune variety?

Shiga Wataribune No. 6 滋賀渡船６号

Where is Shiga Wataribune No. 2 housed?

Ibaraki Prefecture 茨城県

How many cooperatives are there in Japan selling rice? What do these cooperatives form?

694 Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives (Nōgyō Kyōdō Kumiai 農業協同組合)

What has given rise to the domaine brewer (i.e. who grows their own rice or works closely with their growers)?

The weakening of the Staple Food Control Act 1942. This Act prohibited the cultivation of rice by brewers, a wartime measure which outloved its purpose.

Foundation: Rice Flashcards

(56 cards)