Choya Excellent Ume

Key Sake Ingredients

Nihonshu, synonymous to Sake or Japanese rice wine, is made of three key ingredients: water, rice and Koji.

Sake consists of 80% pure water. Water most suitable for Sake are found in what's become the renowned Sake producing regions of Japan. Fushimi in Kyoto Prefecture, Nada in Hyogo Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture. Laboratory analyses have found commonalties amongst the waters from these regions, known through time to be the most suitable for Sake brewing: (1.) the presence of the good elements such as potassium, magnesium and phosphoric acid; and (2.) a low level of iron and manganese which both cause discoloration and ruin the flavor of Sake.

Sakamai, or rice used in producing Sake, is quite different from the regular rice consumed for food. The grains of a Sakamai are much larger, thus making the growing process more difficult. They require more water, nutrients and protection from harsh weather conditions. Niigata Prefecture is the rice growing capitol of Japan.

The structural profile of Sake rice also differs from staple rice. First, the starch compounds in a Sake rice are concentrated in the center of the grain, which propagates yeast to perform at an ideal condition. Surrounding the starch core are fats, proteins, amino acids, minerals and other substances which are carefully removed at the polishing stage. The more taken away, the less impurities, thus more purer the Sake becomes and the more reduced chance for hangovers from over consumption.

Koji is steamed rice inoculated with the powerful Aspergillus oryzae mold. When combined with rice, it breaks up the long chain of starch molecules, which ordinarily yeast alone can not.

Sake is differentiated by the Seimaibuai classification, the percentage of original rice remaining after the polishing process. The more polished away, the lighter and more delicate the flavor becomes.

JUNMAI DAI GINJYO (Seimaibuai 50%) is the highest grade of Sake. At least 50% of the original rice grains are polished off to make Dai Ginjyo.

JUNMAI GINJYO (Seimaibuai 60%) is the next grade, and uses no more than 60% of its original rice grain.

TOKUBETSU JUNMAI (Seimaibuai 60%) literally means “Special Junmai”. Technically qualifies as a Junmai Ginyo, however is positioned as a Junmai for marketing portfolio purposes by the manufacturer.

JUNMAI (Seimaibuai 70%) means “pure Sake”, containing nothing but water, rice and Koji; absolutely no brewer's alcohol added.

HONJYOZO is made with brewer's alcohol added to the fermenting mash. Strict guidelines dictate that honjyozo sakes be made from rice polished so at least 70% remains and that in the final brew, the added alcohol can make up no more than 25% of the total alcohol.

STORAGE of premium Jizake is best in a cool, dark location or refrigerated. Once opened, oxidation starts to take place, which will affect the taste. However, most opened Jizake will be fine, refrigerated, even after a week or two. Many unopened Jizake, kept in good conditions, will have a shelf life of 6 months to a year.

Nihonshu-do or Sake Meter Value (SMV)

Nihonshu-do generalizes the sweetness/dryness of sake using the scientific ratio of sugar versus alcohol. In reality, it is simply the density of sake compared to the density of water. The higher the number, the drier the sake. Jizake Center's highest is +14.0 (Otokoyama Tokubetsu Junmai) and ranges to the lowest at -20.0 (Shochikubai Nigori Silky Mild). When two different sakes have the same SMV, the one with the higher acidity level will taste drier, because higher acidity levels suppress the fruity flavor sensation by its dry, snappy character.

Polish LevelSeimeibuai

ORDER POLICY FOR ALCHOLIC BEVERAGES

1. AGE REQUIREMENTS: YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER TO ORDER AND RECEIVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

   SHIPMENTS CAN ONLY BE MADE TO BUSINESS ADDRESSES OR TO WHERE A RECEIVER (21 YEARS OR OLDER) IS AVAILABLE TO ACCEPT THE PACKAGE.

2. TRACKING INFORMATION: ONCE YOUR PACKAGE HAS BEEN PICKED UP FROM OUR LOCATION BY UPS, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF YOUR TRACKING INFORMATION WITHIN 12-24 HOURS (WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS NOT INCLUDED).

3. CLAIMS: ALL CLAIMS ON DAMAGED GOODS MUST BE MADE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT OF GOODS VIA PHONE, FAX OR E-MAIL. DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE DAMAGE AND PHOTOS WILL BE REQUIRED.

   ALL CLAIMS ON MISPLACED PACKAGES MUST BE MADE WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE UPS DATE OF DELIVERY. WE WILL NOT REIMBURSE ANY LOSS RESULTING FROM THE COMMERCIAL CARRIER LEAVING YOUR PACKAGE AT YOUR DOOR, UNATTENDED, SHOULD NO ONE BE IN TO RECEIVE IT. YOU MUST HANDLE ALL CLAIMS DIRECTLY WITH THE CARRIER. WE WILL PROVIDE THE SHIPPING INFORMATION TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR CLAIM.

4. ADDRESS CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS: ANY CHANGES WILL BE CHARGED $15.00 PER PACKAGE, ONCE THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN SHIPPED.

5. FORWARDING: FORWARDING TO DIFFERENT ADDRESSES WILL BE CHARGED $15.00 PER ADDRESS, ONCE A PACKAGE HAS BEEN SHIPPED.

6. RETURNED PACKAGES OR ORDERS CANCELED (WHILE IN TRANSIT): PACKAGES RETURNED (UNDELIVERABLE, REFUSED OR CANCELED) WILL BE CHARGED CURRENT UPS RETURN SHIP FEES PER EACH RETURNED PACKAGE. REVERSAL OF CREDIT CARD CHARGE AND BANK SERVICE FEES $40.00 RESTOCKING FEE $3.00 PER BOTTLE

7. SHIPPING TO ANOTHER ADDRESS: SHIPMENTS MADE TO ADDRESSES (OTHER THEN YOUR CREDIT CARD ADDRESS) WILL INCUR AN EXTRA CHARGE DEPENDING ON THE SHIP TO LOCATION.

8. STATE LAWS: MANY STATES HAVE LAWS PREVENTING YOU FROM RECEIVING WINES SHIPPED FROM OUTSIDE THEIR OWN STATE. WE CAN NOT SHIP TO THE FOLLOWING STATES: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont.

9. SHIP METHOD: ALL PACKAGES WILL BE SHIPPED VIA UPS GROUND, UNLESS OTHER ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE OR REQUESTED IN WRITING.

   CUSTOMERS WITH ORDERS TO ALASKA AND HAWAII WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ADJUSTED SHIPPING RATES. NO ORDER WILL BE PROCESSED, UNTIL WE HAVE RECEIVED A WRITTEN (mail, fax or e-mail) CONFIRMATION FROM THE CUSTOMER.

10. FALSE CHARGEBACKS: ANY BANK FEES, CHARGEBACK FEES, REVERSAL FEES, AND ANY SERVICE FEES WHICH ARE INCURRED DUE TO A FALSE CHARGEBACK WILL BE CHARGED TO THE CUSTOMER. FALSE CLAIMS COULD RESULT IN THE POSSIBLE FEES OF $100.00 OR MORE PER CHARGEBACK.

11. RESTRICTIONS: ABSOLUTELY NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES ON SAKE OR SHOCHU.

12. AVAILABILITY: SOME PRODUCTS ARE RARE AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY. SHOULD A PRODUCT THAT YOU ORDERED BE OUT OF STOCK OR DISCONTINUED, YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

13. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Any personal information such as your name, phone number, address, e-mail address, products purchased, etc, obtained through the Product Order Forms or any emails, and is maintained by sake.nu in a secure and protected environment, and will never be released to any third party.

Please note that we cannot ship to the following states:, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont.

$16.00 - $18.00 (depending on delivery destination) for the 1st - 300, 720, or 750 ml bottle.

$20.00 - $22.00 for the 1st - 1.5L, 1.8L or 2L bottle.

Each bottle thereafter is $3.00* *1.5L, 1.8L, 2L and sets counts as 2 bottles.

Due to the rising cost of shipping materials, there will be an extra charge of $3.00 for each different bottle size ordered. No extra charge for orders with bottles of same sizes.

Shipments made to addresses, other than the credit card billing address will be charged $3.00 per each different address.

Sorry, NO International Shipping. UPS does not accept Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses.

All packages will be shipped via UPS Ground, unless other arrangements have been made, prior to shipment.

All orders received by 9 AM (PST), Monday - Friday, are usually processed and shipped the next day. All orders received after 9 AM (PST) on a Friday are processed and shipped the following Monday. Please add an extra day or two for holidays.

All claims on damaged goods must be made within 24 hours of receipt of goods. Photographs of damages will be required.

All claims on misplaced packages must be made, directly to UPS, with 24 hours of the estimated date of delivery.

Jizake Center Holiday Schedule

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January
• President's Day - February
• Memorial Day - May
• Labor Day - September
• Thanksgiving Day - November
• Christmas Eve - December
• Christmas Day - December
• New Year's Eve - December
• New Year's Day - January

Normally, UPS does not deliver on Saturday, Sunday or Holidays

Security Code is a security verification code. For Visa and Mastercard users please enter the last 3 digits of the number printed on the back of your credit card in the signature strip. For users of American Express, this is a 4 digit number found on the front of your card above your account number.

For your protection, we now collect this information to try and ensure that the person placing the order actually has the credit card in hand and not a record of your account number.

Click image to view in Google Maps

Pick Up Location - Front Office (not rear loading dock)
Follow the pointer to the end and make a left. Continue to the end of the road and turn right. We are in the last building, just before Davita Dialysis Center.

Pick Up Schedule

• Orders placed on Monday (before 9am) - pick up Tuesday, 2pm ~ 6 pm
• Orders placed on Tuesday (before 9am) - pick up Wednesday, 2pm ~ 6 pm
• Orders placed on Wednesday (before 9am) - pick up Thursday, 2pm ~ 6 pm
• Orders placed on Thursday (before 9am) - pick up Friday, 2pm ~ 6 pm
• Orders placed on Friday ~ Sunday - pick up Monday, 2pm ~ 6 pm

If an item is out of stock, you will be notified before 2 pm.

Hours for any days following the pick up day is 10 am to 6 pm. Please call ahead at 323-943-9480.

Pick up schedules for major holidays will be subject to change.