Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY
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In Japan, it's well known that shochu has more health benefits than other types of alcoholic beverages, and even doctors often recommend shochu to patients with obesity and gout if they like to drink alcohol. But what kinds of benefits does shochu actually have?
Low in calories: Shochu is produced by fermenting and distilling ingredients, and during this process minerals and extracts are removed while the flavor and aroma are retained. Therefore, shochu's caloric value and sugar content remain lower than other types of alcoholic beverages. Also, because shochu is often enjoyed on-the-rocks, mizuwari (diluted with cold water), and oyuwari (diluted with hot water), this makes its caloric value even lower.
Broken down easily in the body: Thanks to its distillation process, shochu's alcohol component becomes highly refined. This means that the alcohol in shochu can be broken down more easily and faster by the human body, compared to other types of alcoholic drinks. So, if you are prone to hangovers, shochu might be the right beverage for you.
Dissolving blood clots: In Japan, shochu is mainly divided into two categories depending on its production method: honkaku shochu (formerly called Otsu-rui) and others (formerly called Kou-rui). The former is single distilled shochu with no more than 45% alcohol by volume, and the latter refers to multiple-distilled shochu with alcohol by volume of less than 36%. Because it's distilled only once, honkaku shochu retains more of the ingredients' original flavor and aroma, as well as their health benefits. Shochu in this category contains a much higher volume of “urokinase,” an enzyme that is effective in dissolving blood clots.
This means that honkaku shochu works well in preventing heart attacks and cerebral infractions. Though it's known that polyphenol antioxidants in wine inhibit the occurrence of blood clots, they do not dissolve existing blood clots like urokinase does. Some clinical studies have shown that people who drink honkaku shochu have urokinase that is about 1.5 times more active than in wine drinkers and 2 times more active than in whiskey drinkers.
An authentic shochu distilled from sweet potatoes and sake malt. Its soft and earthy flavor with a faint aroma of sweet potato does not overwhelm the palate and pairs wonderfully with any meal.
www.chiyomushibi.co.jp
This authentic shochu is brewed using carefully selected Miyazaki Beni Kotobuki sweet potatoes and black malt. It is exceptionally fragrant and characterized by a bold and persistent flavor.
www.kyo-ya.com
The distinctive sweetness and mellow flavors of rare Kurikogane sweet potatoes are brilliant with a dry finish. It is strong and earthy yet clean on the palate and great on the rocks or with hot water.
www.fukiage.co.jp
Two strains of sweet potatoes are slowly brewed over a long period of time to achieve a soft, gentle entry with a subtle depth of flavor. It accompanies any types of cuisine marvelously.
www.kyo-ya.com
A delicate shochu with the subtle richness of sweet potatoes and a fruity, sweet aroma. Its light body with many layers of flavors stands out from other sweet potato shochu that are bold and earthy.
www.suntory.com
This traditional Satsuma shochu is made from locally grown sweet potatoes and fine water from a sacred mountain in Kagoshima. Best enjoyed with hot water, which gives it a subtle sweet potato flavor.
www.satsuma-godai.co.jp
A barley shochu with a clean and neutral entry leads to a sweet fragrance of star fruits and oranges that comes alive on the palate as you savor it. This shochu is incredibly soft and smooth.
www.obisugi.co.jp
This barley based shochu, preserved for three years, has a great depth of flavor that is reminiscent of refined, mild Scotch. It has a golden color and rich, soft flavor with tropical fruit aromas.
www.satsuma.co.jp
This extremely polished, barley based shochu is a two year preserve, and has a wonderfully rich mellowness that opens up on the palate, similar to brandy. It has the aroma of cedar wood and lemon oil.
www.satsuma.co.jp
Brewed using premium rice and mineral rich water, it is a vibrant rice based shochu with an elegant, fruity fragrance. Its delectable rice essence brings out the best flavor in any accompanying meal.
www.hakutake.co.jp
Made entirely from Thai rice, it is earthy on the palate with aromas of wheat, banana and licorice. The quintessential taste of traditional awamori and the essence of Okinawa are hidden in this bottle.
www.k-kumesen.co.jp
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B-kyu Gourmet 
This sake is a perfect match with Japanese cuisine. Its unique blue bottle also accentuates your dining experience.
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