Sake


December 15, 2016

Sake Gumi News: funk•y (December 2016)

by Yoko Kumano

December sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! funk·y \’fuÅ‹-kÄ“\ adjective1. Having or using a strong dance rhythm, in particular that of funk. 2. Strongly musty. 3. Odd or quaint in appearance or feeling. This year was funky. 2016 was full of unexpected […]

December 13, 2016

Today Only: 10% off One Cup Sake Gift Set

by Umami Mart Staff

Today the marks the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas holiday deals. Every day, from today through December 24, we’ll offer a new one-day only deal on a product in our shop. Today’s deal is for 10% off the One Cup Sake Gift Set. Find the discount code on our 12 Days of […]

November 22, 2016

A Visit to Kitaya Brewery in Kyushu

by Kayoko Akabori

As we celebrate Scorpios this month in Sake Gumi, our sake club selections are centered around yamahai and kimoto-style sakes. One Sake Gumi offering is by Kitaya Brewery called Souden, an earthy, yogurty brew that is a current staff favorite. Yoko and I (along with Johnny, Anders, and TB) were fortunate to visit Kitaya on […]

November 8, 2016

Sake Caliente Pop-Up at Azasu NYC

by Kayoko Akabori

The sake scene in New York City is dynamic. When I lived there from 2002-2008, the sake trend was definitely in development, and as a worker-bee in Midtown Manhattan, I was fortunate enough to spend many a late-nights at Sakagura, one of NY’s famed sake bars and other Japanese watering holes in the area. There were […]

October 19, 2016

Happy Hour: Aunt Judy’s Passion Fruit Cocktail

by Kayoko Akabori

Around this time every year, Yoko’s aunt Judy starts bringing around bags of passion fruit for us. She has a very healthy and giving tree in her backyard, which produces plenty of fruit. Judy has been talking about the cocktail she makes with these passion fruit for some time now. Before we said goodbye last […]

October 18, 2016

Eat + Drink Here Now: Nomica

by Patrick Lu

    NOMICA 2223 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94114 T: 415.655.3280

October 17, 2016

Yoko: Shochu Lover and Umami Mart’s Playmate of the Century

by Kayoko Akabori

Shochu is finally getting some big love Stateside, thanks to a well-written piece in Playboy about the Japanese spirit. The article features an interview with Yoko!!! Shochu is Japan’s distilled spirit. It is not sake, nor a wine. Think of it this way: Mexico has its tequila, Russia has its vodka, the Caribbean has its rum, […]

October 15, 2016

Sake Gumi News: Legends and Folklore (October 2016)

by Yoko Kumano

October sakes ship today for Sake Gumi, our monthly sake subscription club. If you like what’s on deck here, you should join! To coincide with the coming of Halloween, this month’s Sake Gumi theme highlights the images of Japanese legends and folklore that often adorn sake labels. From the Gegege no Kitaro characters that appear on one-cups […]

October 7, 2016

The Umami Reader: Limited Edition Whisky Pocky is Coming Soon!

by Sarah Han

– Glico has teamed up with Suntory to bring the world a new limited edition flavor: Whisky Pocky! Part of its adult collection, Otona No Kohaku Pocky (Adult Amber) are salted pretzel sticks flavored with wort (malt extract) that are covered with rich, bitter chocolate. Glico explains that these Pocky are meant to be enjoyed with […]

August 26, 2016

The Umami Reader: David Bowie’s 1980 Sake Commercial Is Creepy and Awesome

by Sarah Han

– Here’s one from the archives: Did you know David Bowie appeared in a Japanese sake commercial in 1980. The ad was for Crystal Jun Rock shochu and featured a snippet of his haunting instrumental synth track, “Crystal Japan” and some intense eye contact from the Space Oddity. Oh David Bowie, we miss you!  (Dangerous […]