屠蘇(とそ) - toso

Toso is a spiced sake drunk in celebration of the New Year. Toso has a special aroma and is believed by some people to be the elixir of life. A bag with several kinds of spices ground up and mixed together is soaked in mirin (sweet sake) in order to make . Japanese pepper (sansho) and cinnamon are typical spices used for .

正月の祝い酒。独特の香気があり、不老長寿の効があるとされる。山椒(さんしょう)・肉桂(にっけい)などの薬草を砕いて調合したものを袋に入れ、味醂(みりん)に浸して使う。