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Fermentation Atlas

Alcoholic drinks from Japan

Kimoto sake生酛

Kimoto and yamahai sake taste more complex and are rich in peptides. Made in 3 steps over 17 days. The longest step, natural lactic phase, takes 14 days (Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association and…) and runs at 8 °C (Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association and…). Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus sakei do most of the fermenting.

Key numbers
Main step14 daysReported[jss-nrib2011]Natural lactic phase
Temperature8 °CReported[jss-nrib2011]Natural lactic phase
AciditypH 3.5TypicalNatural lactic phase

Recipe

No fixed amounts recordedWhat goes in. No source gives amounts for this ferment.

Total time across the recorded steps: 17 days

Start
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8 °Cshapes, not to countLactic acid bacteria

What changes: Rice, koji and water are poled into a paste in shallow tubs

Step 1 of 3
Yama-oroshi (pole-ramming)
Time
3 days
Typical
Temperature
8 °C
Reported
Salt
None given
Acidity
Not documented
Which microbes the steps name, step by step
Lactic acid bacteria
Leuconostoc
Lactobacillus sakei
Yeasts

Output: rice paste.

Flavour
Not documented
Texture
Not documented
Colour
Not documented

Microbes at work in this step

speeds saccharification; nitrate reducers then LAB grow

Method

Measured measured in a studySet fixed by a specification or tested recipeReported one source reports itTypical a general value, not sourced for this fermentUnconfirmed not yet checked against a source

What makes this one different

Starter acidified by naturally growing lactic acid bacteria, not added acid. Rice, koji and water are poled into a paste (yama-oroshi) in shallow tubs, then slowly warmed with hot-water barrels (dakidaru). Takes about one month (WP). Gamier, richer, higher-acid sake; often warmed.

Made the kimoto sake way

History and sources

Every number is labelled with how it is known. How this atlas is made

  1. [jss-nrib2011] Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association and National Research Institute of Brewing 2011, A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Sake, 1st ed.gov
  2. [wp-sake] Wikipedia, Sake (outline only)wiki