Nihonshu-do
日本酒度
Définition
The Sake Meter Value (SMV) expressed in its original Japanese term. Nihonshu-do measures specific gravity relative to water at 15 degrees Celsius, with positive values indicating drier sake and negative values indicating sweeter sake.
En profondeur
Nihonshu-do is the same measurement as SMV but is used on Japanese-language labels and technical documents. The scale centers on zero (same density as water). As fermentation converts sugar to alcohol (which is lighter than water), the nihonshu-do rises. Most premium sake falls between +1 and +8, but extremes range from -100 (intensely sweet) to +20 (extremely dry). It is important to remember that nihonshu-do alone does not predict perceived sweetness — the interplay of acidity (san-do), amino acid content (amino-san-do), and alcohol level all influence the final taste impression.