The Japanese word "Sake" is actually the word for "alcohol". So, strictly speaking, beer, wine and spirits are all "Sake". However for some reason, after its adoption into the English language, the meaning of the word Sake has changed and is now synonymous with "Rice Wine". The Japanese word for "Rice Wine" is "Nihon-Shu". For our explanation we'll talk about Sake in the English sense (Sake = Japanese Rice Wine).

Japanese Sake, although made from simple ingredients, is a complex beverage with a wide range of delicate aromas and refined flavours. As a rule of thumb, you can think of Sake as being made from 3 main ingredients Rice, Water and Koji Mould. The making of sake form these 3 ingredients is a complex process and would take some time to explain in detail.

It is important that you understand the concept of Rice polishing. Basically, rice absorbs proteins, amino acids and other impurities from the surrounding environment. These impurities (called "Zatsumi" in Japanese) create unpleasant flavours when making Sake, so the outer shell of the rice grains needs to be polished away before the brewing process begins. This exposes the starch in the centre of the grain (known as "Shimpaku" or "White heart") which is essential for making Sake. As a general rule, the more the rice is "polished", the higher the quality of the Sake.

There are several different types of Sake and they can be categorised into the denominations that you can see in the SAKE menu.

Please refer 'How To Buy' page.

Yes, you will need to login (or register as a new customer if you have never bought from us before) to complete your purchase.
However we do encourage you to login first before you start shopping for our great bargains.

Please make sure you have ticked the Over 18 year's box which confirms you can legally shop at Sake and More. Alternatively, check if your computer has an active firewall preventing the transaction.

It could be the product you selected has "sold out" while we were processing your order.

No, at this time we do not accept Cashier's Cheque or Money Orders.

You should receive it within up to 2-7 working days of completing your order. If you are a Rural Delivery customer or live in the deep south then allow some additional time just in case. If the obsession is too much, then we can track it for you. Just email us at tokyoliquor_order@japanmrt.co.nz.

Please note that we cannot offer a backorder or "rain checks". We do everything we can to make sure our stock levels are accurate at all times. However there may be occasions due to unforeseen circumstances where we are unable to fulfill your order. If this should occur we will contact you and offer either a replacement product for the value of your purchase or a full refund.

No, not at this stage but email us at tokyoliquor_order@japanmart.co.nz if you think we should.