Editing Awamori (section)

==History==
[[File:Awamori at Miyakojima01s3s4500.jpg|thumb|Bottled ''awamori'' displayed in a shop]]
''Awamori'' owes its existence to Okinawa's trading history. It originates from the Thai drink ''[[lao khao]]''.<ref name=Nakasone>{{cite book|last=Nakasone|first=Ronald Y.|title=Okinawan diaspora|year=2002|publisher=University of Hawaii Press}}</ref> The technique of distilling reached [[Ryukyu Kingdom]], today's Okinawa,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Tracing the Roots of Awamori |url=https://visitokinawajapan.com/travel-inspiration/the-roots-of-awamori/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Visit Okinawa Japan {{!}} Official Okinawa Travel Guide |language=}}</ref> from the [[Ayutthaya Kingdom]] (roughly present-day [[Thailand]]) in the 15th century, a time when Okinawa served as a major trading intermediary between Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. All ''awamori'' is made from Thai (''[[indica rice|indica]]'') rice. The Okinawans refined the distillation process, incorporating techniques from nearby countries, making it more suitable for the subtropical climate and incorporating the unique local black [[Aspergillus oryzae|koji]] mold.<ref name=Nakasone/> From the 15th to 19th century, ''awamori'' was sent as a tribute to Okinawa's powerful neighbors, to the [[shogun]] during the [[Edo period]], and was served to show hospitality to envoys from China.<ref name=":2" /> Strict control for the production and sale of awamori was implemented by the Ryukyu government, which only allowed the upper classes consumption and serving overseas dignitaries,<ref name=":1" /> including Commodore [[Matthew C. Perry]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Entertaining Honored Guests |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/common/001561783.pdf |website=mlit.go.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagio |first=Toshiaki |date=31 March 2016 |title=泡盛今昔 |url=https://www.isc.senshu-u.ac.jp/~thb0309/OishiiOkinawa/awamorikonjaku0329.pdf |access-date=14 February 2025 |website=isc.senshu-u.ac.jp |pages=14, 29 |language=Japanese}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=6 December 2024 |title=ペリー提督一行も味わった泡盛「醸造古く、まろやか」酒宴の記述 ユネスコ無形遺産登録 |url=https://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/culture/entry-3727735.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Ryukyu Shimpo |language=ja}}</ref>

Before April 1983, ''awamori'' was labelled as a second class ''shochu''; it is now labelled as "authentic ''awamori''".

In 2017,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2017/01/14/26317/|title=3 Okinawan liquor makers hold strategy meeting with foreign marketing specialists to develop the "Awamori Brand"|website=Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, Japanese newspaper, local news|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> facing declining sales in the home market, three of Okinawa's prominent ''awamori'' distilleries combined their efforts to introduce ''awamori'' to overseas markets, specifically to the US and Europe.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/10/12/national/public-private-sectors-push-revive-okinawas-struggling-awamori-industry/|title=Public and private sectors push to revive Okinawa's struggling awamori industry|date=2018-10-12|work=The Japan Times Online|access-date=2019-08-26|language=en-US|issn=0447-5763}}</ref> The product, branded Ryukyu 1429, made its UK debut in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019070201379/japanese-awamori-spirits-draw-attention-at-london-show.html|title=Japanese Awamori Spirits Draw Attention at London Show|date=2019-07-02|website=nippon.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-26|archive-date=2020-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116151242/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2019070201379/japanese-awamori-spirits-draw-attention-at-london-show.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>