PREPARATION OF LIQUEFIED SOLUTION OF RAW MATERIAL FOR SHOCHU

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for carrying out the liquefying treatment of grains or crushed steamed potatoes as a raw material for SHOCHU (low-class distilled spirits made from rice, barley, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.) into a liquid material having the fluidity enabling the transfer with a pump. SOLUTION: Grains as a raw material for SHOCHU are reacted with a protease in an amount of >=10 units/g raw material at about 40 deg.C and then reacted with an α-amylase agent in an amount of >=10 units/g raw material while heating the resultant raw material mixture and raising the temperature thereof. The enzymes are then inactivated at 70-90 deg.C and a hemicellulase agent is further reacted with the prepared mixture at about 45 deg.C. Otherwise, potatoes as the raw material for the SHOCHU are reacted with the hemicellulase agent in an amount of >=0.2 unit/g raw material at about 30-50 deg.C and then reacted with the α-amylase agent in an amount of >=10 unit/g raw material. The resultant mixture is then cooled to afford a liquefied solution of the raw material for the SHOCHU transferable with a pump.