Nuka
糠
Rice & Water
定義
The rice bran removed during the polishing (seimai) process. For every kilogram of rice polished to 60%, 400 grams of nuka is produced. This byproduct is repurposed for pickling (nukazuke), animal feed, and cosmetics.
詳細解説
Nuka contains the proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals stripped from the outer layers of the rice grain. While these nutrients are undesirable in sake brewing (they cause off-flavors and cloudiness), they are valuable in other applications. Traditional nukazuke pickle beds fermented with rice bran are a staple of Japanese home cooking. Some breweries have found creative uses for their nuka, including skincare products, rice bran oil, and even distilling shochu from the polishing waste.