Turbidity (dakudo)

Turbidity (dakudo) is an index of the clarity of sake, expressing numerically how cloudy the liquid is. Also called "turbidity" in its loanword form (タービディティ, tabidhiti), it works on the principle that the lower the value, the clearer and more transparent the sake. Specifically, with the turbidity of distilled water set at 0, a value of 20 or below is considered a very light, clean sake, and a value of 30 or below maintains standard clarity. At 50 or above, some cloudiness becomes noticeable, and as the value approaches 100, the sake is clearly cloudy, which can affect its flavor and aroma. For this reason, sake with particularly low turbidity tends to offer a crisp, refined taste.