How to Heat and Serve Sake

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Sake is traditionally served warm in Japan. The rice wine's taste varies subtly with temperature.

Step 1: Warm tokkuri flask
Warm the tokkuri flask in the warm water bath.

Step 2: Bring the sake to room temperature
Allow the sake to come to room temperature if it has been refrigerated. Pour it into the warmed tokkuri flask.

Step 3: Prepare to heat the flask
Place the tokkuri flask in a saucepan of hot water.

Step 4: Heat the flask
Heat the flask to between 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or just above body temperature. Measure the temperature with a food thermometer to be exact.

Tip
A thermometer called an O-kan meter is designed to fit into a sake flask without sinking all the way into it.

Step 5: Serve the sake
Pour the sake into small cups, called ochoko or guinomi, when serving. Hold the flask with both hands when pouring.

Did You Know?
In Japan, freshly pressed sake is traditionally consumed in winter.