Shokuchushu (sake to accompany a meal)

Shokuchushu (食中酒) refers to sake chosen to be enjoyed alongside a meal. It enhances the flavors of the food, and the aroma and taste of the sake and the dish complement one another. For example, sake with a refreshing character often pairs well with fish dishes, while rich, full-bodied junshu (醇酒) is sometimes preferred with meat dishes. The appeal of shokuchushu lies in discovering new flavors through the combination of sake and food, or what is known as a "mariage." In the case of sake, light and crisp sōshu (爽酒), rounder and fuller-bodied junshu, and kunshu (薫酒), which has a distinctive aroma, are all suitable choices as shokuchushu. In this way, shokuchushu plays an important role in enjoying a meal.