Perception of Japanese Sake In Australia

​Perception of sake in Australia

Australia still is not as vast as the international countries but we are getting there. In the first 20 years, the perception of sake did not exist in the minds of Australians which was the same with Japanese culture. Australians were still young in embracing the rice brew lack of understanding conflicted their minds to be willing to try. Only in the last 10 years, the love of Japanese culture started to grow due to the luxury of traveling to Japan. 

Australians were love-struck on the beauty and culture of food that it created an unforgettable experience. With this, it had open up locals' curiosity to the rice brew and the flight back home left local's hearts yearning to relive past leisures.

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​Locals who either traveled or stayed in Japan started to yearn what they had missed. For locals, the access for  Japanese sake through Japanese restaurants made it possible, however not all Japanese restaurants had sake on the menu and if they customers wouldn't understand how to best to appreciate the experience.

Having sake available didn’t mean locals could appreciate it. Mostly they were confused about what made it so special. Japanese sake pairing with food although an enjoyable experience but nobody remembers the Japanese sake they drank and alas~ the sake was forgotten. 

To open the understanding of sake, locals could experience through tasting but proper sake etiquette must be practiced to make the experience leave a good impression. Most local's first perception of sake especially if they have traveled to Japan was it must be drunk hot. Confuse locals commonly would not appreciate how alcohol in itself to be drunk this way, hence they were discouraged to give Japanese sake any room for chance. When the possibility or option was given to locals to drink sake at room and cold locals felt more comfortable to give it try. 

​​Locals were always biased towards sake, but persistent persuasion opens their hearts. By allowing locals to taste broke the iceberg and with proper instructions allow the locals to feel safe. Most locals were shocked at first how this brew came to be and through guidance wanted more. As hot sake was not willingly accepted straight away, the option of room and cold did. 

Most locals had always had the perception of sake was strong. It was hard to understand why customers felt this way, but through taste analysis with each tasting, this opens up another form of lack of understanding. Locals' understanding of strength can be a variety of things, a customer may think it's strong because they don’t like a certain taste, or maybe they are looking for a particular taste. Have something too sweet maybe you feel it is strong, or having it too dry because it is not sweet whatever the case we cannot label sake this way. Asking the proper questions and doing a taste analysis brought the value of trust to locals more easily. 

Held back by perception can be like a "crime' against opportunities and new discoveries. Don't let the wrong perception of Japanese sake deprive you of a enjoyable experience.