Amazake

Amazake is an ancient fermented rice-based drink that hails from Japan. It can be prepared with water, kōji mold, and steamed rice, but it is also sometimes made by combining hot water and sake lees (sake kasu)—the solid sake leftovers.

When made with kōji mold and steamed rice, it typically does not contain alcohol. The drink is not filtered, and it has a thick or chunky texture, while the flavor is subtle and sweet. Although it is considered a beverage, amazake has several uses—it is mostly enjoyed as a snack or a dessert drink, but it can also be added to dishes and drinks, in which it imparts sweetness and flavor.

Amazake is often praised as a healthy, nutritional beverage filled with good bacteria and is considered especially beneficial for digestion. It is also often promoted as a great hangover cure. The locals enjoy it as a warm wintertime drink or as an excellent remedy against summer heat. The origins of this ancient beverage go back to Kofun period (from about 300 to 538 AD), and though it remained an integral part of Japanese tradition, it was only recently that amazake became a trendy, sought-after specialty.