CHUAI Sake
Founded in 1913, Taisho 2nd year in Tochigi Prefecture by Mariko Tomikawa.
Where is
Tochigi Prefecture?
Tochigi (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) is a landlocked prefecture in the Kanto Region. One of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, the city of Nikko with its famous Toshogu Shrine, is located in Tochigi Prefecture. The prefectural capital is Utsunomiya.
What it is known for?
The Nasu area is known for its onsens, local sake, and ski resorts, the villa of the Imperial Family, and the Nasushiobarastation of the Shinkansen railway line.
Tochigi Prefecture has an abundance of quality water that is essential for sake brewing. Tochigi is noted for many rivers like the Kinugawa River, the Nakagawa River, and the Watarase River.
The water in Tochigi is ideal for sake brewing because of its hardness and mineral content. Sake is over 80% water, so its quality greatly affects the brew.
Tochigi’s sake is known to be rich and sweet. The sake is noted for amply bringing out the sweetness and umami flavor of the rice.
Rice used to brew CHUAI Sake
Akaiwa Omachi Rice
The grains of Omachi are large. The average weight for 1000 grains, a common metric, is an above-average 27.3 grams. Omachi also has a very high rate of shinpaku (≈ 90-95%) and relatively high protein content (5.8%).
The large grains and ample shinpaku are great for koji production and sake brewing.
However, the grains crack easily during milling. Since cracked grains are not ideal for making quality sake, this limits how much milling can be achieved. The typical maximum seimaibuai for Omachi is around 45% (55% removed).
Tochigi (栃木県, Tochigi-ken) is a landlocked prefecture in the Kanto Region. One of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, the city of Nikko with its famous Toshogu Shrine, is located in Tochigi Prefecture. The prefectural capital is Utsunomiya.
About the Founder
Mariko Tomikawa
She is one of the few women in Japan who brews sake & manages the brewery well.
CHUAI Daiginjo won a gold medal at the Annual Sake Competition & received a prize in the National New Sake Appraisal.
Story behind the success
1. Female Leadership
In her 4th year after taking over the brewery, she won the first gold medal for her sake, while juggling her family life with very young children! Mariko has led her team to more awards since.
Mariko san also seeks to improve female participation in a male-dominated industry.
2. Local culture & Sake rice at the forefront
Makes sake that reflects the local tastes of Tochigi Prefecture and uses local Tochigi-grown rice as much as possible.
Other than reflecting local tastes. each sake is also made to bring out the best expressions of the sake rice used.
3. Loyalty to the emperor & love for the country
The sake name “忠爱 Chu Ai“ came from the term “”忠君爱国 chukun aikoku”, which was heavily promoted nationwide when the brewery was founded.
Find CHUAI Sake at
Vibes Cafe @Punggol
CHUAI Junmai ~JUN~ 720ml
JUN meaning “pure”. Made to be simply enjoyable
for drinking at all times and with any type of food
without having to think, so that you can simply enjoy
the “pure joy” of drinking.
Light dry, fruity notes intertwined with umami rice
flavours, juicy acidity. Hits the spot for drinking with
any type of food.
Sake Type: Junmai 純⽶
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 17-18%
Recommended Serving: Chilled;
lightly chilled; room temperature, light
warm
CHUAI Nakadori Junmai Daijinjo Akaiwa Omachi 720ml
Gorgeous fruity aroma, juicy yet elegant notes of
apple and grapefruit with vibrant acidity that
balances out the sweetness, making it a sake one
can enjoy throughout the night. Made with the rare
and premium Akaiwa Omachi sake rice from
Okayama.
Nakadori is the middle part of the sake pressing
considered to be the highest quality.
Sake Type: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice Type: Akaiwa Omachi (Okayama)
Polish Rate: 50%
SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.5
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 16-17%
Recommended Serving: Chilled;
lightly chilled; room temperature.
CHUAI Nakadori Junmai Ginjo Yumesasara 720ml
Gorgeous fruity aroma, fine-grained complex flavours
with fruit at the front and fine umami transitioning
into luscious acidity at the end. Using Tochigi’s own
Yume Sasara sake rice.
Nakadori is the middle part of the sake pressing
considered to be the highest quality.
Sake Type: Junmai Ginjo 純⽶吟醸
Rice Type: Yume Sasara (Tochigi)
夢ささら (栃⽊県)
Polish Rate: 55%
SMV: +6 Acidity: 1.6
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 17-18%
Recommended Serving: Chilled; lightly
chilled; room temperature.
CHUAI Junmai ~JUN~ 720ml
JUN meaning “pure”. Made to be simply enjoyable
for drinking at all times and with any type of food
without having to think, so that you can simply enjoy
the “pure joy” of drinking.
Light dry, fruity notes intertwined with umami rice
flavours, juicy acidity. Hits the spot for drinking with
any type of food.
Sake Type: Junmai 純⽶
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 17-18%
Recommended Serving: Chilled;
lightly chilled; room temperature, light
warm
CHUAI Nakadori Junmai Daijinjo Akaiwa Omachi 720ml
Gorgeous fruity aroma, juicy yet elegant notes of
apple and grapefruit with vibrant acidity that
balances out the sweetness, making it a sake one
can enjoy throughout the night. Made with the rare
and premium Akaiwa Omachi sake rice from
Okayama.
Nakadori is the middle part of the sake pressing
considered to be the highest quality.
Sake Type: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice Type: Akaiwa Omachi (Okayama)
Polish Rate: 50%
SMV: ±0 Acidity: 1.5
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 16-17%
Recommended Serving: Chilled;
lightly chilled; room temperature.
CHUAI Nakadori Junmai Ginjo Yumesasara 720ml
Gorgeous fruity aroma, fine-grained complex flavours
with fruit at the front and fine umami transitioning
into luscious acidity at the end. Using Tochigi’s own
Yume Sasara sake rice.
Nakadori is the middle part of the sake pressing
considered to be the highest quality.
Sake Type: Junmai Ginjo 純⽶吟醸
Rice Type: Yume Sasara (Tochigi)
夢ささら (栃⽊県)
Polish Rate: 55%
SMV: +6 Acidity: 1.6
Pasteurised: Twice
Alcohol Content: 17-18%
Recommended Serving: Chilled; lightly
chilled; room temperature.