Winter is just around the corner!
It’s the season that we can enjoy hot sake at home!
However, are you still wondering how to heat up sake properly?
No worries. I am telling you the guide of warming sake in 4 ways in this post.
If you’ve read this post, you already know the genius invention of heating up sake.
It’s the electric sake warmer which is the ideal warmer for hot/warm sake.
Is the Japanese invention sometimes crazy? Haha.
It has great reviews on Amazon US, except the instruction is in Japanese.
Or you are one of them, you have already owned it but you are not sure how to use it.
So, I am going to give you the ultimate guide (instruction) on how to use TWINBIRD sake warmer with English translation from Japanese.
The Products Guide
TWINBIRD Japanese Electric Sake Warmer Portable Atsukan Machine Black TW-D418B
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6.3 x 6.2 x 10.1 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 2 lb |
| Voltage | AC 100 V 50 – 60 Hz |
| Wattage | 250 W |
| Temperature Adjustment | 4 levels |
| Power Cord Length | About 5 feet |
| Capacity | 300 ml= Ichigo-Han/1.2 cup |
- The pitcher? (kettle? pot?) has fluorine resin coating inside.
- Do not use stove top directly.
- The top lid is made of plastic.
- The pitcher is aluminium with fluorine resin coating inside
- 4 levels of temperature from the second on the left side, Hitohadakan, Jokan, Atsukan, Tobikirikan. *The left side is the power indicator.
Trivia Of Hot/Warm Sake; Different Names Depends On Temprature (How Hot It Is)
Each hot/warm sake at each temperature has its own name, for example, “Atsukan” is the most popular name that you may have heard before.
| Temperature | Term | English Translation (Literally) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| over 55 C/131 F | Tobikirikan | Piping hot | Strong and dry scent |
| 50 C/ 122 F | Atsukan | Hot | Sharp |
| 45 C/ 113 F | Jokan | Warm | Round |
| 40 C/ 104 F | Nurukan | Lukewarm | The best temperature to the total balance taste of sake |
| 35 C / 95 F | Hitohadakan | Body temperature | You can enjoy round rice flavor |
| 30 C/ 86 F | Hinatakan | Like Warm Sunny Place | Not hot & cold. Moderate taste. |
| 20 C/ 68 F | Jo-on | Room temperature | The taste as it is. When test-tasting sake, it is always served at room temperature. |
| 15 C/ 59 F | Suzuhie | Cold | After taking it out of the refrigerator for a while, it has a mellow taste. |
| 10 C/ 50 F | Hanahie | Floral Cold | Refrigerated for several hours, it has a fine texture |
| 5 C/ 41 F | Yukihie | Snow Cold | Icy cold. you can see the frost in the glass. Almost no aroma, dry, sharp |
Only 13 Minutes To Warm Sake With TWINBIRD TW-D418B
You don’t need boiling water and checking temperature all the time, and also you don’t lose the delicate sake flavor like when using a microwave.
It also has a warmer function so you can keep your favorite temperature.
Steps How To Use TWINBIRD Sake Warmer
- Make sure the power is off and plug it into an outlet and the temperature adjustment tub is on the end of left.
- Pour Sake in the pitcher (kettle? pot?), put a lid on, and place on the warmer.
- Turn on the power. (The power indicator is on.)
- Adjust the tub to your desired temperature. *4 levels of temperature from the second on the left side, Hitohadakan, Jokan, Atsukan, Tobikirikan. *The left side is the power indicator.
- Wait for about 13 minutes. (when sake temperature is at 20C/68F)
Note
- The picture above is the power label translated into English.
- Do not fill sake higher than the max line inside of the pitcher.
- Do not add any other liquid outside Sake.
- Do not turn on the power without placing the pitcher.
- Use a hot pot mat for countertop when serving. The pitcher bottom will be hot.
- TWINBIRD sake warmer doen’t have a function of aram or sound so you need to set a timer youself.
- The time to reach the set temperature will vary depending on the amount of sake and the original temperature.
How To Clean TWINBIRD Sake Warmer
The instruction doesn’t mention “dishwasher-safe”, so it is better to avoid using a dishwasher. (Using dish washer is not so general in Japan, so you need to be careful when you handle Japanese products.)
- Wash the lid and the pitcher with a sponge.
- Rinse well and towel dry.
- Do not use a stainless scrubbing sponge or Kitchen Cleaners.
- Wipe the warmer thoughtfully after use. (Do not wash with a water.)
The Bottom Line
You can make easily hot/warm sake without losing delicate flavor.
There are 4 levels of temperature to the taste of sake, and it takes only about 13 minutes to ready to drink. Because of the warmer, literally, it can keep Japanese sake warm until another cup.
One cup and a half (about 300 ml) size is exactly the same size as a small bottle of sake.
TWINBIRD is a Japanese company so it is exactly invented just for warming sake.
It doesn’t take much space and you can enjoy hot/warm sake without worries.
It can be a great gift for a person who loves Japanese sake.
