Masahiro - Shimauta

awamori serves as one of Japan's oldest spirits (about 600 years old.) Its special ingredient is black koji mold, prepared to be combined with water and yeast in a process that is suitable for the humidity in Okinawa. During the Edo period, this was a "diplomatic" beverage for the Ryukyu Kingdom as it was given to the shogun and served as a form of hospitality for those Chinese representatives. Okinawans traditionally "let it sleep" in clay pots, a process that encourages the maturity of the flavors.