As sake brewer Yamamoto Yumika sprinkles koji spores onto sheets of rice, her movements methodical and unhurried, the air around her is redolent with the sweet, nutty aroma of the koji. The brewery's atmosphere is still hazy and rich with microbial activity. As she looks out the window, the view that greets her isn't the lush, mountainous region of Niigata in Japan, or the golden rice fields of Hyogo prefecture, but the bustling seaport in Jurong, where Singapore's first sake brewery, Orchid Craftworks resides..
Co-founded by sake sommelier Oh Reuben Luke, the brewery quietly whirred to life in May, guided by brewers from Tokyo's Konohanano Brewery. "I used to think brewing sake in Singapore was particularly difficult or even impossible due to the water quality. But after visiting Japan and finding breweries in metropolitan cities like Tokyo, I realised that water can be filtered (to remove fluorides) and fortified with minerals."
Oh first became acquainted with Hosoi Yosuke, the owner of Konohanano Brewery, in the summer of 2022. He was in the Land of the Rising Sun by invitation of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore after he was named the Young Sake Ambassador by London's Sake Sommelier Association in 2021. Conversation blossomed, and soon, "even though it didn't make financial sense, we wanted to see if it was possible in Singapore, of all places," Oh admits.
They got their answer when the first bottles of uTama sake started rolling off the production line. Named after Sang Nila Utama, the legendary founder of ancient Singapore, with "tama" also meaning "spirit" or "soul" in Japanese, the sake is brewed with Japanese rice, koji, and yeast, at least for the time being. There is a shortage of sake brewing literature on Southeast Asian rice, so the team have begun experimenting independently. "Jasmine rice didn't work, but Thai black rice seems promising," he divulges.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2024 من The PEAK Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 2024 من The PEAK Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
From Screen to Store
Heini Zachariassen, founder of global wine rating app Vivino on how its first retail store in the world brings data-driven curation to wine lovers.
In the Dining Spotlight
Renowned Dutch chef Sergio Herman, whose name has been associated with the Michelin Guide in the Netherlands and Belgium, is expanding his Asian footprint with his Singapore outpost, Le Pristine in Grand Hyatt Singapore.
All for One
How would you navigate a corner if you were hearing-impaired or enjoy school if you were on the spectrum? These architects posit that inclusive design must be part of mainstream standards to improve overall living environments.
Pods and Swirling Staircases
This quirky and playful home designed by Park Associates is shaped after its owners, a young family with three children.
Stories Behind the Kebava
Sufiyanto A. S., one half of the duo behind the Kebaya.Societe Instagram account, has had enough of seeing Malay identity erased and forgotten.
Good to Go
Driving classic Jaguars on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit is all the magic a motorhead needs.
Seasons of the Snake
Japanese architect Tadao Ando once again works his magic for Bvlgari, with the Serpenti Tubogas as an artistic canvas for nature's cyclical transformation.
Phoenix Rising
One gutsy retired pharmaceutical executive rescued two-century-old Swiss watchmaker Bovet, and today, its presence is stronger than ever in Southeast Asia.
Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!
Chan Weitian injects new insights into Presto Drycleaners, blending operational innovation with time-honoured values.
Preserving Paradise
Gaya Island Resort takes eco-tourism beyond the expected, blending conservation efforts with authentic luxury.