Kuchikamizake

Kuchikamizake is a drink that is made by a special type of fermenting process.

To understand what that means, let's first talk about fermenting.

Fermenting is like cooking but with little monsters called yeast and bacteria. These little monsters eat the sugars in food and make gas and alcohol.

Now, kuchikamizake is made with rice and saliva. Yes, saliva, the spit in your mouth. But don't worry, adults do it in a special way that makes it safe to drink.

First, the rice is cooked and then cooled to about body temperature. Then, someone chews the rice and spits it out into a bowl. This is where the saliva comes in.

The saliva has enzymes that help the yeast and bacteria grow and create alcohol. So, the chewed rice and saliva mixture is left to ferment for a few days.

After the fermentation is complete, the mixture is strained to remove any solid bits and the liquid left behind is kuchikamizake.

It has a slightly sour taste and is often used in traditional Japanese ceremonies or as a special treat.

So, in short, kuchikamizake is a drink made with rice and saliva that is fermented with yeast and bacteria to create alcohol.