Nikutare buai (sake yield ratio relative to polished rice)

Nikutare buai is an indicator used in producing sake from polished white rice. It shows the ratio of the amount of sake produced to the amount of polished rice used. Specifically, it is calculated by subtracting the brewing water, added alcohol, and base sake from the quantity of sake, dividing the result by the weight of the polished rice, and expressing it as a percentage. A higher figure means that more sake has been produced from the rice. Around 70% is generally regarded as a standard nikutare buai. It is an important factor when evaluating the efficiency and quality of sake brewing.