"Junmai Cacao Sake," a Japanese sake in which cacao had been soaked

Local sake makers in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture and a chocolate store in Kyoto City jointly developed "Junmai Cacao Sake," or a Japanese sake in which cacao had been soaked. The sake, featuring a brownish hue and a chocolate-like flavor, will be sold for Valentine's Day. "We want to increase the number of young fans of Japanese sake," they stated.

The pure sake was developed by Yosamusume Shuzo Company in Yosano-cho, Takeno Sake Brewing Co. Ltd., in Kyotango City and "Dari K," or a handmade chocolatier that roasts their own cacao from Indonesia, in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto. Keiichi Yoshino, the president of Dari K, wondered whether he could make something other than chocolate with cacao in combination with his favorite, Japanese sake, and approached both sake brewers about developing this product last summer.

Both companies soaked roasted and finely-crushed cacao in their original pure sake using the Kyoto's original sake rice named "Iwai" for about a month. Takeno Sake Brewing Co. Ltd. added 5% granulated sugar from Hokkaido to its cacao sake, making it easier to drink. Yosamusume Shuzo Company's sake has no added sugar to further enhance the flavor of cacao and the taste of Japanese sake.

The scientific name for cacao is derived from a Greek word meaning "food of the gods." From this, the sake was named "Kakao," which is a combination of two Chinese characters meaning "god" and "flavor," and put into a cacao-bean-shaped bottle.

It has been sold at Dari K stores since January 18, and will be available for purchase on the Internet from late January. It is also scheduled to be sold in special valentine sections at Takashimaya Kyoto, Daimaru Kyoto and JR Kyoto Isetan, all in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, and other places from January 30. A 360-milliliter bottle costs 4,200 yen. President Yoshino of Dari K said, "I think that our pure cacao sake is rare worldwide and good for sauces in food dishes and desserts. I want to broaden the market, including restaurants, and even sell it overseas."