High hydrostatic pressure pasteurization of a draft sake brewed using a Niigata-sake yeast

ABSTRACT

Draft (non-pasteurized) sake typically has a fresh flavor, but usually has to be consumed as soon as possible because of its short shelf life due to the potential for over-fermentation by residual yeast. In contrast, thermally pasteurized sake has a long shelf life, but the fresh flavor is lost during heat sterilization. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment can be used as a non-thermal pasteurization process while maintaining the characteristics of a draft sake. We evaluated the HHP inactivation behavior of sake yeast for the application of HHP pasteurization as an alternative to thermal pasteurization. The results showed complete pasteurization of sake yeast in the draft sake by HHP treatment at 400 MPa for 10 min. The viable cell count in HHP-pasteurized sake was below the detection limit during storage at 10°C for 3 months. Thus, we have established a HHP pasteurization technology to prevent over-fermentation and succeeded in producing a prototype of HHP-sparkling-cloudy sake, which we have designated AWANAMA.

KEYWORDS:

• Niigata-sake yeast
• HHP-sparkling-cloudy sake
• pressure-regulated fermentation
• AWANAMA

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Uchida Energy Science Promotion Foundation and by the NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (the special scheme project on regional developing strategy). We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of our colleagues, including the provision of a prototype-sparkling-cloudy sake and the production of the AWANAMA by Kanemasu Shuzo Co., Ltd.; and the provision of a complex PET plastic bottle by Dai Nippon Printing. We also are thankful to the many HPBB2018 attendees who participated in tasting of the AWANAMA.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Uchida Energy Science Promotion Foundation: [grant number 28-1-58]; NARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (the special scheme project on regional developing strategy): [grant number 16808032].