A sake set typically includes a flask and cups for serving the traditional Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice. The set can be made from ceramic, glass, lacquered plastic, tin, or bamboo, and cups can vary in shape and size. Sake can be served hot or cold, and the set’s material usually determines the serving temperature. Sake sets come in various designs and can be given as gifts for many occasions.
In general, a sake set includes a flask and at least two cups for serving the sake. Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic drink made from rice. A typical sake set is ceramic, but more elaborate sets are also available in glass or lacquered plastic, as well as tin and bamboo. Cups vary widely from plates and saucer-like to small wooden boxes called masu. Flasks are often bulbous with a thin neck, but they come in as many shapes and sizes as cups. A sake set can be given as a gift for many occasions, including weddings, birthdays, or housewarmings.
A tokkuri is the generic term for the flask in a sake set. These flasks typically have a bulbous or square base and a narrow neck, but different styles have their own specific terms. For example, a metal sake flask with a handle is usually called a choshi. The typical shape is ideal for heating sake; sake is traditionally heated by placing the flask in a pan of hot water, and the thin neck helps keep the heat from escaping. A flask set is usually made of ceramic, glass, or lacquered plastic and can vary in the amount of sake it holds.
A sake set will also include at least two cups that match the design of the flask. These mugs can vary widely in shape and size. The flat saucer-shaped cups are called sakazuki and are usually found at weddings and tea ceremonies, while the most common type of sake cup is the small cylindrical ochoko. The sake stem, a glass sake cup raised above a base as wide as a wine glass, is increasingly common. Like flasks, cups are made from a variety of materials, with the glass reserved for serving chilled sake.
The most traditional cup of sake is the wooden measuring cup or masu with a volume of 6 ounces (180 milliliters). Sake was once sold by filling the wooden box which was then used as glasses. Some contemporary sake drinkers prefer other types of masu cups because they believe the wood affects the flavor of the drink. However, the lacquer or plastic Masu is increasingly common and this traditional cup is still used in some ceremonies.
Sake is a clear alcoholic beverage that comes in many varieties. In Japanese, this rice-based drink is called nihonshu or “Japanese alcohol.” The brewing process of sake is similar to that of beer, despite the fact that sake is sometimes called rice wine. Sake has a higher alcohol content than most beers and is often diluted to about 15 percent with water before bottling. The origins of this Japanese beverage are unclear, but the first written references date back to the third century.
The serving temperature for sake depends on the time of year, the drinker’s preferences, and the quality of the drink. It is often heated in the winter, but high-quality sake is never eaten hot to preserve the flavors. Low-quality sake can be heated to mask its inferior taste. The material used to prepare the sake set usually determines whether it is used to serve hot or cold sake. Sake can be served straight or in cocktails such as tamagozake or sake bomb.
Sake sets come in an almost infinite number of designs. Some show simple floral flower designs while others feature Japanese calligraphy. Some sets are plain, others terracotta. The materials, the size of the set, and the elaboration of the design all affect the price. A sake set is typically sold in a gift box suitable for weddings, birthdays, and many other occasions. There are colors, shapes and sizes available for all tastes.
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