Kaoba Meets Sake — Now Pouring at Moto, Covent Garden
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Kaoba Meets Sake — Now Pouring at Moto, Covent Garden
There are drinks that are defined by what they are. And then there are drinks that are defined by where they come from — the soil, the season, the hands that made them, the culture that shaped them. Sake is one. Kaoba is the other.
When Moto reached out, it made immediate sense.
Kaoba — the UK's first sparkling cacaofruit soda and Great Taste Award winner — is now available at Moto, the UK's first independent Japanese sake bar, shop and eatery, at 7 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7NA.
Two firsts. One address.
About Moto
Moto delivers artisan beverages direct from small yet passionate producers throughout Japan in the heart of London's Covent Garden. Founded by Brandon Chin and Erika Haigh after years of research and multiple trips to Japan's finest independent breweries, Moto was built on a single conviction: that the UK deserved access to the kind of sake that rarely, if ever, leaves Japan.
The name Moto is derived from the fermentation starter used in the more traditional sake breweries — and another meaning for Moto in Japanese is 'origin.' A fitting name for a bar that traces every bottle back to its source — its terroir, its producer, its season.
Offering a selection of bottles aimed at novice drinkers and seasoned sake lovers alike, Moto has built a following among London's most curious drinkers — people who want to understand what they're drinking, not just consume it. Sake flights, tasting cards, knowledgeable staff, and an ever-changing menu of Japanese-inspired small plates make it one of the most distinctive drinking experiences in the city.
It is, in short, a bar that takes origin stories seriously.
So does Kaoba.
Two Brands. One Philosophy.
Sake begins with rice, water and koji — and centuries of craft knowledge passed down through breweries that often remain in the same family for generations. The terroir of the water, the quality of the rice, the specific koji strain, the season — every element shapes what ends up in the glass. Nothing is arbitrary. Nothing is wasted.
Kaoba begins with cacaofruit — the naturally sweet white pulp surrounding the cacao bean, discarded by the chocolate industry in quantities of millions of metric tonnes every year. We take that fruit, press it, and can it. Two ingredients. No added sugar. A Great Taste Award. A flavour — pear, lychee, citrus — that surprises everyone who tries it.
Both drinks carry a story that starts long before the bottle. Both are made with the kind of intentionality that defines the best drinks in the world. Both refuse to cut corners.
That is why they belong in the same room.
How Kaoba Pairs with Sake
Sake is one of the most food-friendly drinks in the world — and one of the most drink-friendly too. Its umami depth, clean acidity and wide range of styles make it extraordinarily versatile. Kaoba, with its light tropical character and clean effervescence, works alongside sake in a way that very few drinks can.
Here's how to think about it:
Junmai and Junmai Ginjo The earthy, full-bodied richness of a good Junmai finds a natural counterpoint in Kaoba's clean, light carbonation. The tropical brightness of cacaofruit cuts through the rice-forward weight, refreshing the palate between sips. Think of it as the interlude between movements.
Daiginjo At the delicate, aromatic end of the spectrum — where sake turns floral, fruity and almost gossamer — Kaoba mirrors rather than contrasts. Both carry top notes of tropical fruit. A chilled glass of Daiginjo alongside an ice-cold Kaoba is as close to a pairing meditation as drinking gets.
Yamahai and Kimoto The wild, lactic, deeply savoury character of a Yamahai or Kimoto is bold enough to stand up to almost anything. Kaoba's natural sweetness provides balance — not competition. The lychee and citrus notes in the cacaofruit lift the savoury depth without masking it.
Nigori Cloudy, creamy, with residual rice solids — Nigori sake is rich and sweet. Kaoba's effervescence cuts through beautifully, acting as a palate cleanser that makes each sip of Nigori feel fresh again.
As a non-alcoholic companion Not everyone at the table is drinking sake. Kaoba gives them something equally considered — a drink with its own origin story, its own complexity, its own reason to be there. Not an afterthought. A choice.
At Moto — What to Order
Visit Moto at 7 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden and ask the bar team for a sake flight alongside a cold Kaoba. Let them guide you through the range — from light and aromatic to rich and savoury — and use Kaoba as your constant: the thread that runs between every glass, refreshing and resetting as you go.
Pair both with the Chicken Fry — sake-battered, tempura-crumbed, and one of the best things in Covent Garden. The tropical acidity of cacaofruit handles fried food with the same ease it handles everything else.
Moto is walk-in only. Open Tuesday to Sunday from midday.
Find Kaoba at Moto
7 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7NA
Near the Royal Opera House. A short walk from Covent Garden piazza. The kind of place you discover once and return to repeatedly.
Follow Moto: @moto.ldn Follow Kaoba: @drinkkaoba
Kaoba. From Waste to Wow. Great Taste Award Winner. 2 ingredients. 0% added sugar. Now at Moto, Covent Garden.
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