If you are wondering what the Japanese eat on New Year’s Eve, Chloé Cazaux Grandpierre has the answer to your question: sobas. Tshikoshi sobas are buckwheat noodles in a broth and they symbolize the transition to the new year. They also represent longevity. The next day, sake is in the spotlight: it is called Toso or O-toso in its honorary form. It is a Japanese sake embellished with medicinal herbs. Drinking symbolizes luck, especially in health matters. We then break the vicious circle of evil spirits. Indeed, the ideograms 屠 蘇 mean “evil spirits” and “to slaughter”.
Chloé Cazaux Grandpierre: They say that drinking a medicinal drink prepares the body and the mind for the year to come by warding off diseases like the flu and hopefully the Covid! But consuming Toso isn’t just a gesture towards yourself: it’s also to protect your whole family.
This special sake is drunk on New Year’s morning, early. It is served in sakazuki, cups. There are always 3 that are on top of each other: toso sake is poured from a teapot called tosoki. Everyone in the family will take a sip facing east, from youngest to oldest. It is thus a symbol of vigor: the youngest transmitting their strength to the elderly. Here then is a story of sake carried out smoothly as in each meeting with Chloé Cazaux Grandpierre, sommelier sake.
Chloé Cazaux Grandpierre is a “made in Bordeaux” woman! In 2012, she launched the Chloé and Wines blog to talk about her wine and spirits discoveries with a focus on wine tourism. Since 2014, she has been a sake sommelier and is the only female sake educator in France, Otsukimi, Moon Drinkers – Sake Sommelier, Sake Educator and Shochu Advise. Chloe participates in numerous competitions as a jury, rates sakes and wines for an international magazine and is officially recognized by the Japanese government as a “Japanese Food Supporter”. Chloé regularly gives talks on sake and Japanese spirits. She joined the team of bloggers of France Bleu Gironde in 2020, very happy to share her knowledge and her passion for Japan on the air! Kanpai! (Cheers !).
