Effect of kuratsuki Kocuria on sake's taste varies depending on the sake yeast strain used in sake brewing.

Although sake yeast mainly produces the taste of sake, sake brewery-inhabiting (kuratsuki) bacteria affect the taste of sake. Thus, kuratsuki bacteria may alter the metabolism of sake yeast through interactions between kuratsuki bacteria and sake yeast. This study aimed to confirm the effects of the combination of kuratsuki Kocuria TGY1127_2 and different sake yeast strains, AK25, K901, and K1801 on the taste of sake. Although the Brix and acidity during sake production using AK25 differed between sake with and without kuratsuki Kocuria, those using K901 and K1801 did not differ. Thus, sake yeast AK25 interacted with kuratsuki Kocuria and changed its characteristics of ethanol fermentation. In addition, the taste intensity changes, measured with a taste sensor TS-5000Z, showed that the effects of adding kuratsuki Kocuria varied among different sake yeasts. Thus, each sake yeast strain interacted with the kuratsuki bacterium and produced different metabolites, resulting in a change in the taste of sake. The findings of this study can lead to the brewing of sake using different types of kuratsuki bacteria which can affect the taste of sake.