A research institute backed by Japan's Forestry Agency is working to commercialize the world's first spirits made from wood, hoping to breathe new life into the country's struggling forestry.
A new research building at the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute in Tsukuba, about 50 kilometers northeast of Tokyo, was completed on Wednesday. The facility is intended to be a centralized center for wood spirits development, which was previously spread across the region.
The institute has been working on woods used in food-related products, such as Japanese cedar for disposable chopsticks and Mizuna oak for whiskey barrels.
Each results in a unique spirit. Japanese cedar gives a woody aroma reminiscent of barrel-aged sake, while Mizuna oak brings an aroma reminiscent of whiskey barrels. Other types of wood can produce spirits with notes of white wine or citrus.
Production starts by breaking down wood to extract cellulose, which is made up of long chains of glucose. The cellulose is ground into a fine powder and mixed with food enzymes and brewer's yeast to form a slurry.
After about a week of fermentation, the mixture produces a liquid with an alcohol content of 1% to 1.5%, which is then distilled into spirits.
Two kilograms of Japanese cedar are needed to fill a 750ml bottle of 35% alcohol. This means that more than 100 bottles can be produced from one log.
Safety is a key issue. The institute said it had not found any problems when testing spirits for toxins such as mold, as well as when testing on animals.
Once the process is perfected, the institute plans to transfer the know-how to the private sector in hopes of stimulating demand for Japanese timber and revitalizing the forestry industry.
Japan's domestic timber supply rose 41% in 2021, according to a forestry white paper for the fiscal year ended in March.
The cedar and cypress trees planted in the country after World War II have struggled to compete with imports. With demand for building materials also down, many 50- to 60-year-old trees ready to be felled are left to grow.
Trees lose their value if they are not harvested at the right time. They can also have trouble rooting properly when they grow too close together, which can lead to an increased risk of landslides.