‘Sawa’, a Fruity Japanese Cocktail

Although it is customary to serve traditional sake or beer at izakaya, taverns where Japanese people meet to have a drink and something to eat with their friends or colleagues, fruity cocktails are becoming increasingly popular. One such example is the famous Sawa cocktail (from the English ‘sour’), made with soda, shochu (an alcohol made from different ingredients such as rice or barley), and fruit liqueur.

The most popular Sawa is the Lemon Sawa but there are also variants like Lime Sawa, Ume Sawa, made from green plum liqueur, Grapefruit Sawa, and Sudachi Sawa (little green citrus fruits that enhance the bitterness of the drink).

Modern variations of the cocktail in Kyoto

Sour in Kyoto is one of the most recommended spots to try these tasty cocktails. This standing-only bar is found in the back streets of Shinkyogoku, one of the city’s busiest shopping districts. Formerly a vintage clothing store, this renovated space has quickly become a hotspot for Sawa aficionados.

Behind the bar is a large, colourful display unit filled with fresh fruit, the bar’s unique feature being the fact that it uses almost the entire fruit to make each drink. Customers can also add unusual ingredients to their cocktail, like Okinawa turmeric or Korean carrot.

More information on Sour bar in Kyoto is available on its website.