Mirin

Mirin (Japaneseみりん, rare in Kanji:味 醂) is a sweet rice wine of Japanese cuisine. It is made from glutinous rice, rice yeast ( koji yeast ), water and high-proof alcohol. The alcohol content (ethanol content) of real Mirin is approximately 14 % by volume.

Mirin types

There are three types of mirin: Natural real mirin ( hon mirin ), salted Mirin ( shio mirin ) and non-alcoholic so-called new Mirin ( shin mirin ).

Real Mirin

Real mirin ( hon mirin ) contains 14% ethanol by volume. Similar to the port created by sticky rice, rice yeast water and sugary solution by adding alcohol to the full fermentation is prevented. Cheap variants, which are then only allowed to call Mirin Fumi to be mixed from industrial alcohol, sugar and rice extract.

Salted Mirin

Salted Mirin ( shio mirin ) additionally contains 1.5 % salt. He is exempt from Japanese tax on alcohol, because it can not be used for drinking, but only as a condiment by the salts.

Alcohol-free mirin

Alcohol-free mirin ( shin mirin ) contains less than 1 % by volume of ethanol.

Seasonings

Mirin is together with soy sauce ( Shoju ) main component of the teriyaki sauce. It is used mainly for cooking, mirin only a few quality producers sometimes as a drink. However, these have a little less sweetness and a higher alcohol content.