Amazake
/ˌɑː.məˈzɑː.keɪ/noun
A sweet Japanese drink made from fermented rice or rice koji, sometimes containing a small amount of alcohol.
Did you know?Amazake appears in Japanese historical records as far back as the eighth century and was traditionally consumed as a nourishing seasonal drink, especially during hot summers.
Etymological Timeline
8th Century
Old Japanese
甘酒 (amazake)
“An early recorded name for a sweet fermented rice drink.”
Heian Period
Japanese
甘酒 (amazake)
“A sweet alcoholic or lightly fermented beverage made from rice.”
Edo Period
Japanese
甘酒 (amazake)
“A popular nourishing drink sold by vendors, including as a summer refreshment.”
19th–20th Century
Japanese
amazake
“A traditional rice-based drink, made either with rice koji or fermented sake lees.”
Modern English
English
amazake
“A Japanese sweet fermented-rice beverage, commonly marketed as low- or no-alcohol.”