NEWS · B2 Level - Part 1

What makes Sake unique

Sake has deep cultural significance in Japan, and now that country is asking the United Nations to keep it sacred.

Level: B2 · 15 sentences

Transcript

1. Sake has deep cultural significance in Japan,
2. and now that country is asking the United Nations to keep it sacred.
3. For more than 1,000 years, the Japanese rice wine known as sake has been brewed.
4. It can be served hot or cold, and its popularity has grown around the world.
5. Brewers of the fermented alcoholic beverage are hoping sake will receive the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage designation.
6. This program has already added Cuba's light rum makers and China's traditional tea processing techniques
7. to its list of knowledge and skills that need to be protected.
8. According to the Sake and Shochu Makers Association,
9. sake exports make about 265 million dollars each year.
10. Sake takes about two months to make,
11. and in the same way champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France,
12. while any other similar beverage is simply sparkling wine,
13. sake must be made with Japanese rice.
14. Otherwise, it's just rice wine.
15. Sake brewers also hope the UNESCO designation will help boost sales.