Home News, tips & recipes Chocolate Infused Sake from Sushi Secrets

Chocolate Infused Sake from Sushi Secrets

I live in what I like to call “drinkable sake” diaspora.

Attending the California Sushi Academy spoiled me. The CEO, Toshi Sugiura, was a Certified Sake Masters Emeritus. You can bet that he introduced us to the delicacies and nuances of fine sake. Unfortunately, many of those fine varieties are well out of reach in my part of the South. Here, we have an abundance of low end boxed stuff that most sushi restaurants offer only hot. And those delicate sake varieties I dream of? Those I enjoy in abundance when travelling.

Don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy sake regularly. I make cocktails and infusions with what I have available quite often. And one of my favorites is Chocolate Infused Sake. It was a no brainer when I was working on the Dessert and Drinks chapter for Sushi Secrets.

Chocolate Infused Sake

Makes 4 cups

Infuse for 72 hours

from Sushi Secrets: Easy Recipes for the Home Cook

  • 1 quart or 4 cups (1 liter) sake
  • 1/2 cup (80 g) dark chocolate cocoa powder
  • 1 vanilla bean or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Simple Syrup

  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) water
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar
  1. Whisk the sake and cocoa powder together in a large bowl. Decant the mixture into a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Split the vanilla bean down the center and scrape away the seeds. Add the pod and seeds or the vanilla extract to the jar. Shake the jar vigorously and allow the mixture to rest in a cool, dark place for at least 12 hours. 
  2. Shake the jar vigorously every 8 – 12 hours. After 72 hours, strain the mixture through a cheese cloth 3 times. 
  3. To make the Simple Syrup, bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the sugar and stir until it completely dissolves. Remove from the heat and cool.
  4. Stir the Simple Syrup into the infused sake. Chill thoroughly before serving.
  5. To serve, pour desired amount of Chocolate Infused Sake into a small glass and top with fresh, lightly whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate curls over the top for garnish.  

I like to set up a Chocolate Infused Sake bar. Put out a chilled container of the sake and provide whipped cream, chocolate shavings, mint sprigs, chocolate covered espresso beans, and instant coffee powder (Starbucks Via works wonders).

(c) In the Kitchen with a Southern Sushi Chef – Read entire story here.