Reika (chilled aroma)

Reika (冷香) refers to the aroma perceived in sake when it is served chilled. This aroma stands out particularly in high-quality sake such as Junmai and Ginjo, offering fruity, fragrant notes. Reika is also an important element that expresses the umami of the rice and the character of the water used in brewing. Because the way aroma is perceived changes with temperature, drinking sake chilled allows you to enjoy its aroma more fully. Reika is generally sometimes associated with a slight "tsuwari-ka" (ツワリ香) note and with the freshness of namazake (unpasteurized sake), but its essence is closely tied to the quality of the sake and the brewing method.