Sakimoto Shuzo Distillers

The Process of Making Awamori at Zuisen Distillery

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The Process of Making Awamori

Awamori is one of the most popular specialties of Okinawa. Differing from Sake, it is not brewed but distillated.

10 minutes walk away from Shurijo Castle, one of nine UNESCO world heritages in Okinawa, there is an Awamori distillery called Zuisen Distillery. Founded in 1887, the distillery has been producing quality Awamori since then. Let's take an inside tour at their Awamori factory to see the process of making Awamori.

1. Ingredients
Awamori's main ingredient is Indica rice, which is imported from Thailand.

2. Washing
After washed, rice is dipped in the water.

3. Steaming
Drained rice is heated with steam for about an hour.

4. Koji
Kurokoji mold, which is specific to Awamori, is sprayed over steamed rice. It is stood for two days.

5. Moromi
After water and yeast are added, it is fermented for about two weeks. It becomes about 18% alcohol by volume.

6. Distillation
It is distilled by a pot still to produce aromatic Awamori.

7. Maturing
Awamori matures through aging. Awamori aged more than three years is called Kuusu and gained additional value.

Tours of Zuisen Distillery starts every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 16:30. The distillery is an approximately 10-minute walk from Shurijo Castle. Feel free to visit them while sightseeing or wandering around the area.
*Reservations are necessary for groups of 10 or more.

Zuisen Distillery Co., Ltd.
1-35 Sakiyama-cho Shuri, Naha City Okinawa 903-0814
Tel: 098-884-1968 / Fax: 098-886-5969
9:00 a.m.-5:20 p.m.
Closed on 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese national holidays



Video made by Visit Okinawa Japan
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