Today, I would like to talk about the Sake and Chinese food pairing. This pairing turns a meal at a fine restaurant or hotel into something even more enjoyable and luxurious.
Sake’s deep flavor paired with Chinese cuisine.
Sake, with its rich Umami flavor and characteristic taste, is a perfect match for many food materials. The power of this sake helps to bring out the flavor of the food and bring out its deliciousness. As for the seasonal Shanghai hairy crab and simply boiled shrimp that Thai high society favorites, since shellfish is a typical ingredient in Hokuriku, even in Japan, the dish of simply boiled Shanghai hairy crab and boiled shrimp over a fire is a wonderful combination that words cannot describe with sake.
Notable is “Haneya”, born in Toyama Prefecture. This sake made with spring water from Tateyama and other mountains in Toyama, is characterized by its delicate, elegant, and well-balanced flavor. These sakes are listed in the first class lounge of Japan airline. The soft texture and crispy aftertaste enhance the flavor of the simply cooked Shanghai crab and boiled shrimp.
Example of an exquisite pairing – Peking Duck and Sake
Now, as an excellent example of pairing, let me give you the Peking Duck. This time, since I had not decided on the dish in advance, I paired it with a sparkling sake that I carried with me, but the richness of the duck overpowered the delicate sparkling sake. Long aged sake or strong “Yamahai” sake would have been a better match. These sakes have a deep flavor reminding one of Chinese Shaoxing sake. And they harmonize perfectly with the rich flavor of Peking duck.
Pairing Opportunities for Sake and Chinese Cuisine
As you can see, the pairing of sake and Chinese food still has wonderful possibilities to be discovered. The journey of how these seemingly different cultures can come together to create a marriage that is a work of art is truly a gastronomic journey in progress.
The world of cuisine is unlimited, and our adventure is never-ending. Join us in this wonderful world of food pairings! (Mr. Bacchus)
