Percent (%)

Percent is a unit that expresses the content of a substance or the proportion of a component. In sake, it is used particularly in relation to alcohol content, extract content, and rice polishing ratio. For example, the alcohol content of sake is written as "alcohol %," which indicates how many milliliters of pure alcohol are contained in 100 ml of sake. The alcohol content of typical sake is about 15% to 20%. The extract content of sake is expressed as a weight/volume percent, specifically the weight in grams of extract contained in 100 ml of sake. Extract content is an important factor in determining the taste and depth of sake. Furthermore, the rice polishing ratio is expressed as a weight percent, which indicates the weight of polished white rice obtained from 100 g of brown rice. For example, a rice polishing ratio of 50% means that 50% of the original brown rice remains after polishing. Because the rice polishing ratio has a major influence on the flavor of sake, it is an important indicator.