{"id":8529,"date":"2021-09-06T18:37:46","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T18:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mizkanchef.com\/?p=8529"},"modified":"2022-03-29T08:57:58","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T08:57:58","slug":"what-is-mirin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mizkanchef.com\/en\/2021\/09\/what-is-mirin\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Mirin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Mirin?<\/b><\/p>\n

Mirin is a naturally fermented Japanese sweet rice wine popular within Japanese cuisine. This clear, gold liquid is an essential in many dishes such as chicken teriyaki, ramen and udon.<\/span><\/p>\n

The condiment is similar to sake – what differentiates the two is that mirin has more sugar and\u00a0 it\u2019s mainly used for cooking, unlike sake which is also enjoyed as a drink.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whilst it does taste a little like sake, mirin has a complex flavour of sweetness, a subtle tang yet quite a rich flavour, resulting in a lot of umami undertones balanced by mild acidity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This blog post will help chefs understand the different types of mirin, what it\u2019s made of, its uses and how chefs can use the condiment to experiment and add their own special touch to a range of Japanese dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Different Types of Mirin<\/b><\/p>\n

Mirin can come in three different types, from its purest, most authentic form to variations. Let’s explore them further:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Hon mirin \u2013 which means true mirin, is the highest quality, purest form of mirin made mainly of\u00a0 three ingredients – rice, rice koji, shochu or alcohol. This condiment contains no added sugar and is produced by a 40-to-60-day mashing process.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Aji mirin \u2013 is a fermented seasoning made from fermented rice and rice koji, blended with sugar, salt and alcohol. Since salt is added to make the condiment undrinkable it is inexpensive without liquor tax in Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Shin mirin \u2013 is a mirin-style seasoning\u00a0 that contains less than 1% alcohol, just like our <\/span>Honteri mirin<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0What is Mirin Made of?<\/b><\/p>\n

    The three main pure mirin ingredients are rice, rice\u00a0 koji and shochu. The product is fermented from 2 months to up to several years.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Authentic mirin’s sugar is generated naturally during fermentation. Other mirin-like condiments, however, may contain artificial sweeteners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    What is Mirin Used for?<\/b><\/p>\n

    Due to its umami flavour, mirin is known to complement soy sauce in many Japanese dishes and is part of many traditional sauces such as teriyaki sauce, ponzu sauce and tempura dipping sauce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Let\u2019s explore what else the condiment is used for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n