【Sake in English vol.4】日本酒の日本酒度とは？

本日は日本酒度について書きたいと思います。
日本語での説明は画像で、その下に英語で説明を書きますね。

The Sake Meter Value (=SMV) measures the specific gravity of sake compared to water. The range of the flotation meter depends on each product, but it should be from around -30 to +25 and the SMV value for sake is often around -3 to +3.

We often use the SMV as an index that numerically describes the sweetness and dryness.

The stick will float more in denser sake
= the liquid line will reach a negative value
= The sake is heavier than water
= The sake has the residual sugars left over
→ the taste should be sweet

The stick will sink in less dense sake
= the liquid line will reach a positive value
= The sake is lighter than water
= The sake has less residual sugars left over
→ the taste should be dry

It can be said that the taste would be sweet if the SMV is negative and the taste would be dry if the SMV is positive, but the stimulus to our senses from the alcohol content and acidity would affect the taste, also the sense of taste differs from one person to another. Therefore, it is better to consider SMV as just one of the methods to measure sweetness and dryness.