Sake is one of Japan’s most iconic imports and a truly delightful drink in its own right.
The drink pairs beautifully with a number of Japanese dishes, and its well-balanced flavors make it a total delight to drink even by itself.
However, sake is also very strong in terms of sheer alcohol content, so many people often find themselves wondering whether it is possible to get drunk off of sake, and how much sake you would need to drink in order to get drunk.
Whether you want to drink sake with the intention of getting drunk, or you want to ensure you don’t have too much, then you should make sure to read on down below, because we have all you need to know!
How Much Sake Would You Need To Drink To Get Drunk?
One of the most unique things about sake is that it is served in small porcelain cups that are referred to as ‘Ochoko’.
The average ochoko cup can hold around 20 to 50 milliliters of sake.
Thus, we will take a look at how many of these individual cups you would need to fully consume in order to feel any strong effects.
Sake is actually incredibly strong in terms of average alcohol content. The average sake has an alcohol content of around 18 to 20%!
This puts it far ahead of most common wines, which tend to average at around 9 to 16% alcohol content.
However, some sake drinks are diluted with water before they are bottled, which can occasionally reduce the alcohol content to around 15%.
So, now that we know how much average alcohol content there is in sake, and how much sake can be contained in an ochoko cup, we can say that it would take up to around 6 to 14 cups of sake for an average woman to become intoxicated, whereas it would take around 9 to 20 cups for an average man to become intoxicated.
This is quite a significant amount, and it actually largely stands at odds with how sake is usually consumed.
In order for that amount of cups of sake to have a significant effect, you would need to consume them all within the space of an hour! So how is sake meant to be consumed?
You should also make sure to consider the individual biology of the person consuming the sake.
Genetics, weight, physical fitness, and general alcohol tolerance can all have a significant impact on how intoxicating sake is.
How Is Sake Consumed?
Because of the small size and shape of ochoko cups, many often find themselves confused as to whether sake should be sipped, or consumed like a shot of spirits.
We can tell you for certain that sake is not meant to be consumed as one quick shot.
Part of the pleasure of sake is allowing its complex, sweet, and soothing flavors to spread out across your tongue.
Thus, you should sip it, making sure to notice the many flavors and even the different temperatures of the drink.
Because you are meant to sip sake and savor its flavors, it is actually unlikely that you would get significantly drunk, even if you were to drink multiple cups of it.
You should be taking your time when drinking sake, which should prevent you from running the risk of getting drunk.
Another interesting thing about sake is that it is also often consumed warm.
This is totally unlike many alcoholic drinks, and especially wines.
Sake can be enjoyed chilled, but many of the complex flavors and the creaminess of the drink become more prominent if the drink is served warm or at room temperature.
Why Is Sake So Strong?
Many are often surprised by how strong sake is, especially when it is considered closest to wine, thanks to being called ‘Rice wine’.
Many often incorrectly assume that sake is a spirit because of its high alcohol content, but sake is actually not distilled and is instead brewed, rather similarly to beer.
In order to make sake, the brewers first take rice and ferment it with yeast over a period of time.
The yeast that is used to create sake is actually called Koji-Kin, and it is a naturally occurring live culture that is found predominantly in Japan!
This is why sake is able to have such a distinct sense of flavor. As well as this, the Koji method also helps to give sake its iconic high alcohol content.
Is Sake Stronger Than Beer?
Yes. Sake is much stronger than beer, especially in terms of alcohol content, and this is why it is served in small ochoko cups so that you are able to more easily sip and savor it.
Sake is made to be savored in small sips, rather than drunk down like a shot.
To Wrap Up
When it comes to enjoying sake, the key is to take it nice and slowly, and carefully savor every sip.
Allow each sip of sake to carefully spread across your palate and release its inherent flavors.
This is also beneficial for ensuring that you do not get drunk while drinking sake. Sipping helps to keep you well-paced while enjoying the drink.
You would have to drink a significant number of cups of sake to become drunk, and they would each have to be drunk very quickly.
On average, around 9 to 20 cups of sake would need to be consumed by an average man and around 6 to 14 cups would need to be consumed by an average woman for any intoxication to happen.
However, it is also important to consider the alcohol tolerance of the person drinking the sake, as well as how quickly they choose to consume it. Drinking sake quickly will naturally make it more intoxicating.
You should not aim to get drunk from consuming sake, as you should try to consume it slowly using small sips.
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
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