🥃 Kuma
Kuma is Japan's protected name for rice shōchū from the Kuma district and Hitoyoshi (Kumamoto): only Japanese rice and rice koji, local water, single pot-still distillation.
If you know sake, think of Kuma as its distilled cousin: a rice spirit with a protected name, like Scotch for whisky. Kuma is Japan's geographical indication for rice shōchū from the Kuma district and the city of Hitoyoshi in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu. It is made only from rice grown in Japan and rice koji, with water from the area, and distilled once in a pot still.
Requirements. According to the specification of the National Tax Agency, the base is rice and rice koji grown in Japan, plus water collected in the Kuma district or Hitoyoshi city. The primary mash of rice koji and water may be fed with a new portion of rice koji and water and fermented a second time. Fermentation, distillation, storage during production and bottling all take place within the designated area.
The place. Hitoyoshi lies in a mountain basin washed by the Kuma River. Rice, cool waters and an old distilling tradition gave the area its reputation as a centre of rice shōchū. The name is controlled by the Kuma shōchū management committee, which works from the Hitoyoshi distilleries.
Neighbours. A similar raw material is awamori from Okinawa, but awamori is made with black koji and has its own protected name. Kuma was one of the first Japanese protected names for shōchū, protected in 1995 together with Iki and «Ryukyu»; Satsuma was protected later.
Why it matters to you. The name Kuma on the label guarantees Japanese rice, rice koji and local water, but not the strength: single-distilled shōchū can reach 45 % vol. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Japanese PGI «Kuma», National Tax Agency; Liquor Tax Act No. 6 of 1953, Art. 3 item 10 |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Japanese rice and rice koji; water from the Kuma district and Hitoyoshi |
| Distillation method | single pot-still distillation within the zone |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | up to 45 % vol. |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Kuma → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Japanese
- Part of
- 🥃 Shochu, 🥃 Kome shōchū
- Related to
- 🌍 East Asia
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Awamori, 🥃 Mugi shōchū, 🥃 Imo shōchū, 🥃 Iki, 🥃 Iki, 🥃 Satsuma, 🥃 Satsuma, 🥃 Soba shōchū, 🥃 Soba shōchū
Frequently asked questions
Is Kuma the same as awamori?
No. Both are single-distilled rice spirits, but Kuma is made in Kumamoto from rice and rice koji, while awamori is made in Okinawa with black koji.
Is Kuma shōchū like sake?
Both start from rice and koji, but Kuma is a distilled spirit, made in a single pot-still distillation, while sake is not distilled.
Where is Kuma made?
In the Kuma district and Hitoyoshi city, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu.
What does the name Kuma guarantee on a label?
Japanese rice, rice koji and water from the Kuma district or Hitoyoshi, with production, storage and bottling in the area. It does not guarantee a particular strength.
What is the strength of Kuma?
Not above 45 % vol. for single-distilled shōchū; the exact figure is on the label.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🌍 East Asia — A region in the east of Asia — China, Japan and Korea: milk became an everyday food only in the 20th century, but there are old traditions such as rushan and so; China ranks third in the world for vineyard area.
- 🥃 Mugi shōchū — Mugi shōchū is a Japanese barley shochu made with koji and distilled once, up to 45% ABV (90 proof). Best known are the protected name Iki (Nagasaki) and the light styles of Oita Prefecture.
- 🥃 Iki — Iki is Japan's protected geographical indication for barley shōchū from Iki Island (Nagasaki): only barley and rice koji in roughly a 2:1 ratio, island water, single distillation.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Iki · 🥃 Satsuma · 🥃 Awamori · 🥃 Bayerischer Bärwurz · 🥃 Genièvre aux fruits / Vruchtenjenever · 🥃 Ostpreußischer Bärenfang
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- National Tax Agency of Japan: product specification of the GI Kuma (球磨): Kuma district and Hitoyoshi city, Kumamoto Prefecture; rice grown in Japan and rice koji from it; water from the area; fermentation, distillation, storage and bottling in the area; pot distillation; control body Kuma Shochu Management Committee
- Government of Japan, Highlighting Japan (02.2021): Iki, Kuma and Satsuma — Kyushu shōchū designated as geographical indications; Kuma from Kumamoto Prefecture
- Liquor Tax Act of Japan (Act No. 6 of 1953), Art. 3 items 9–10: continuous-distilled and pot-distilled shochu
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)