(さけこうじ)

さけこうじ
noun
sake koji; sake lees with koji
1. sake koji; rice koji used for brewing sake
Rice that has been inoculated with koji mold for the purpose of brewing sake. The koji breaks down the starches in rice into sugars that can then be fermented into alcohol. An essential ingredient in sake production.
酒麹(さけこうじ)日本酒(にほんしゅ)(づく)りに()かせない。
Sake koji is indispensable in sake brewing.
酒蔵(さかぐら)酒麹(さけこうじ)(つく)(かた)見学(けんがく)した。
I observed how sake koji is made at the brewery.
良質(りょうしつ)酒麹(さけこうじ)(つく)るには温度(おんど)湿度(しつど)管理(かんり)重要(じゅうよう)で、杜氏(とうじ)経験(けいけん)技術(ぎじゅつ)()われる。
Making high-quality sake koji requires careful temperature and humidity control, and depends on the master brewer's experience and skill.

A compound of (さけ) (sake, rice wine) and (こうじ) (koji, mold culture). Koji ((こうじ)) is the Japanese name for Aspergillus oryzae, a mold used extensively in Japanese food production.

酒麹(さけこうじ) is also sometimes used in cooking as a marinade or seasoning, valued for its ability to tenderize meat and add umami flavor.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 酒麹(さけこうじ)(つく)る: to make sake koji
  • 酒麹(さけこうじ)()ける: to marinate with sake koji
  • 酒麹(さけこうじ)風味(ふうみ): flavor of sake koji
  • 酒麹(さけこうじ)仕込(しこ)み: brewed with sake koji

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (こうじ): koji — the general term for koji mold or koji-cultured grain
  • 米麹(こめこうじ): rice koji — koji grown on rice, used more broadly in cooking
  • 甘酒(あまざけ): amazake — a sweet fermented rice drink made with koji