Noka

Noka is the aromatic opposite of tanrei (light, restrained). A sake with noka might show intense fruit, rice, lactic, or aged aromas that fill the room when the bottle is opened. Noka is not inherently positive or negative — some drinkers prize it as expressive and characterful, while others find it overwhelming. Styles that tend toward noka include yamahai, kimoto, genshu, koshu, and daiginjo brewed with high-ester yeast strains. The term is often paired with a modifier: noka-kaori (rich aroma) or noka-junmai (rich junmai).