Tohoku gourmet

Amazake from Horai-ya Honten

Tasty and nutritious amazake from Houraiya, perfect for the cold season! [Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture]

When it's cold, you may feel a bit down... In those cases, why not recharge your body with some delicious amazake?

This time, we will introduce a unique amazake made by Horai-ya Honten in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture. This flavorful amazake has a gentle, natural sweetness that makes it delicious to gulp down. Even those who have previously been hesitant to try amazake may find it easy to drink. Why not try it as a great accompaniment to your time at home?

Refreshing sweetness and flavor! Horai-ya's Amazake series

Houraiya sells a wide variety of amazake. This time, I purchased the following three types

Takaraya
  • Yuzu Amazake
  • Matcha Amazake
  • Lemon Amazake

All of the above are straight-up types in 350ml PET bottles. Once opened, they are ready to drink. They are made with rice koji and contain 0.00% alcohol. Even children and those with low alcohol tolerance can safely drink them. We'll compare each one and review them

Gentle and mellow "Yuzu Amazake"

Yuzu Amazake

"Yuzu Amazake" is a product made with yuzu citrus fruit from Seto, Kagawa Prefecture. The slightly creamy, cloudy amazake has plenty of koji settled at the bottom. Shake the bottle well before drinking.

When you open the package, you'll be greeted by the gentle aroma of koji. The yuzu scent adds a subtle elegance to the taste. It's understated, but does a great job

It's incredibly mellow in the mouth. The fruity flavor of the yuzu matches well with the koji, creating a gentle harmony. The bitterness that is characteristic of yuzu is barely noticeable. It's creamy, yet has a clean aftertaste, with the flavor of yuzu lingering in your mouth. Every time the koji grains crumble in your mouth, a gentle sweetness overflows. This soothing amazake will warm your spirits

Elegant and deep "Matcha Amazake"

Matcha Amazake

Next up is "Matcha Amazake." Many will find its green color reminiscent of Japanese aesthetics. This product, made with matcha from Shizuoka Prefecture, is beautifully complemented by the white of the settled koji.

The impression on the palate is that of a matcha latte that is not overpowering. It has a subtle, natural, and rounded sweetness, and the matcha flavor is elegantly complex. Interestingly, the impression of the flavor changes depending on the number of koji grains that enter the mouth. The more koji grains there are, the better the balance with the matcha flavor seems to be. The secret to a delicious drink is to shake it well before drinking

Please try this when you want to feel warm and cozy

Lightly and permeating "Lemon Amazake"

Lemon Amazake

also tried the "Lemon Amazake." This one uses lemons from Sicily. It has a white, translucent color. Compared to other amazake, it has a lighter aroma. The subtle citrus scent of lemon might be contributing to this.

You'll be surprised at how light it is when you put it in your mouth. The koji flavor is gently but harmoniously conveyed. The acidity is mild and barely noticeable. It pairs perfectly with the koji, making it easy to drink like fruit juice. It's a fresh flavor that will change your image of amazake in a good way

Amazake is made by the long-established manufacturer, "Horai-ya Honten Co., Ltd."

These amazake (sweet rice drink) aremade by Horaiya Honten Co., Ltd.. Since its founding as Horaiya Koji Store in the Meiji era, the company has continued to uphold the traditional koji (rice malt) manufacturing method for over 100 years. After building a factory in Tamura City, Koriyama in 1971, the company expanded its business, and the koji products and amazake made by Horaiya Honten have gained high praise overseas as well.

Houraiya Honten began full-scale production of amazake in 1957. They have produced a number of hit products, including pure rice amazake, straight amazake, chilled amazake, etc. Since the start of the Reiwa era, they have also commercialized flavored amazake

  • Matcha Amazake
  • Black sesame sake
  • Yuzu Amazake
  • Pumpkin Amazake
  • Mochibarley Amazake
  • Lemon Amazake
  • Fermented rice koji drink "MOKO" (a blend of peach juice and amazake extract)

We offer a unique lineup of products such as:

In addition to amazake, they also have many other hit products such as sangohachi pickle bases and miso. They are a major manufacturer that has supported the dining tables of Koriyama City. All of their products can also be purchased from their online shop

Information

Even if you don't like amazake, this drink is easy to drink! Delicious and energizing!

This time we introduced three types of amazake produced by Takaraya Honten Co., Ltd., headquartered in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture

The yuzu, matcha, and lemon flavors offer new possibilities for amazake. Each flavor harmonizes with the koji, creating a balance that supports the gentle flavor of the koji. I felt that this product design was possible only at Houraiya Honten, which is confident in the deliciousness of its koji

Houraiya Honten not only sells amazake, but also a variety of other products that utilize fermentation techniques. Be sure to check them out

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