A Japanese sake brewing company goes where no sake brewer has gone before: space. THE Asahi Shuzo the company behind the popular Japanese sake brand Dassai plans to send sake ingredients to the International Space Station (ISS) to brew a very special drink. If it works, just one 100 ml bottle will be offered for sale on Earth for US$653 (more than R$4 million).
A standard dose of sake is 80 ml, which would make Dassai produced in space a very expensive drink. “There is no guarantee of 100% success in fermentation tests,” said Souya Uetsuki, the person responsible for the project at Asahi Shuzo.
He said the difference in gravity could affect how heat is transferred in the fluid, causing a different fermentation process in space than on Earth.
The company paid the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency for access to the Kibo experimental module, part of the ISS developed by the Japan, where tests can be conducted in a “special microgravity environment”.
The agency said it would not comment on the privately funded project.
Sake on the Moon?
Sake is made from Japanese rice, water, yeast and koji (a type of mold). Traditionally, it takes about two months to make through a series of precise steps involving steaming, stirring and fermenting.
The drink is enjoyed in a glass at many Japanese cultural occasions — from weddings to meals at pub-like izakaya restaurants — and last week it earned a place on UNESCO’s list of “intangible cultural heritage of humanity.”
Dassai — which means “otter festival” in Japanese — is one of the most popular sake brands on the market. But its manufacturer is also behind premium products popular with collectors willing to spend up to thousands of dollars for a bottle.
Asahi Shuzo’s foray into space is more than just another attempt to make another rare sake, according to Uetsuki.
He said the company hopes the project will offer insights into how fermentation works in space so that one day they can brew sake on the Moon.
“In a future where humans can travel freely between the Moon and Earth, some will visit the Moon as tourists. This project aims to create sake that can be enjoyed on the Moon, allowing visitors to have a delicious time there,” he said.
He hopes the technology will also benefit future space tourists who have a penchant for other types of fermented foods.
“Many Japanese foods, such as natto and miso, are fermented, and this technology could expand into these areas,” said Uetsuki.
The company is developing equipment for space manufacturing, with a launch date scheduled for the end of 2025.
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This content was originally published in Dose of sake made in space can be sold for R$3 million on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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