The featured image would not be possible if it were not for my all-time favorites CityFoodsters and Jeremy Keith.
I started this blog to fill in what the media outlets with no skin in the game aside from a paycheck fail to get right, so I am out to assist my fellow content marketing cohorts because I eff up all the time (so, I got their back this time). I also include one of the most extensive lists of Japanese mirin and rice vinegar brands.
I do this blog because it is my contribution to us Americans and the Japanese as a bridge to understanding each other’s food culture. So I try to get it right because it is also part of my life as a red-blooded Japanese American in the great US of A, the land of Big Gulps and opiates.
During the research of my teriyaki sauce blog post, I came across a few bad points on mirin, sake, rice vinegar, and beyond, but that is for another blog post.
I know people were confused about ramen vs. instant noodles, but now I know there needs to be more clarification on a whole lot of other things.
The TL;DR (Too Long Didn’t Read)
A breakdown summary of each Japanese brand of rice vinegar and sweet rice wine with the full details listed further below.
Japanese Rice Vinegar Brands
- Iio Jozo, 123 year old vinegar company out of Miyazu, Kyoto, Japan. Iio Jozo, makes what high-quality rice vinegar, along with yuzu ponzu, sushi vinegar, pickles vinegar, brown rice vinegar, purple sweet potato vinegar, and sweet potato vinegar with honey.
- Kikkoman, 105 year old company know for soy sauce, food seasoning and flavoring, mirin, shōchū, and sake, juice and other beverages, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant management services.
- Marukan, Marukan produces premium, seasoned, unseasoned and organic rice vinegars, apple cider vinegars and ponzu soy dressings using traditional, centuries-old methods perfected in Japan
- Mizkan, for more than 215 years, Mizkan is a global, family-owned company, Japanese company producing vinegars, mustards, salad dressings, authentic East Asian sauces, nattō, and other food products.
As a kid, the go-to rice vinegar brand was/is Marukan ($10/12oz). As a semi-mature adult, my go-to for mirin due to availability and price is Kikkoman aji-mirin (60oz, $15-16, I use it a lot, so imitation or tastes like mirin will do in most cases).
The details are all further below if you want to make up your own mind.Although, when I throw down Kokonoe (500ml for $40-$70), mirin is used for special occasions.
Japanese Sweet Rice Wine Brands
- Fukuraijyun, by Hakusen Shuzou Co., Ltd, founded in the late Edo period.
- Mizkan, for more than 215 years, Mizkan is a global, family-owned company, Japanese company producing vinegars, mustards, salad dressings, authentic East Asian sauces, nattō, and other food products.
- Morita, from Nagoya-city, Aichi-prefecture known for soy sauce, miso, soy sauce or miso based sauces, sake, bottled water and tea, and Japanese pickles.
- Ohsawa (Yamaki), N/A
- Kikkoman, 105 year old company know for soy sauce, food seasoning and flavoring, mirin, shōchū, and sake, juice and other beverages, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant management services.
- Kokonoe, a 250 year old company (since the Eco period), out of Hekinan City in the Aichi prefecture was established in 1772. Their mirin consists of ingredients 100% sourced from throughout Japan and takes upwards of 1 year to produce.
- Takara (USA division), was established in 1983 in Berkeley, California. The main products produced in Berkeley are the “Sho Chiku Bai” brand of sake, flavored sake, plum sake, mirin and “others (you know, others).”
You may be thinking “are there not a million and one resource already about mirin and rice vinegar?”
If you thought that, you are 100% correct about that, so why am I doing another one? I am doing it because the content on the internet gets regurgitated by writers looking to stay employed. So, if there are mistakes, those mistakes keep getting disseminated amongst our flock of fellow Japanese food lovers, and the buck stops here. Well, hopefully, it will. Also, if you are wondering what that means, it is a slang expression for “pass the buck,” which means passing the responsibility on to someone else.
Questions that probably do not keep you up all night:
I want to use “the word for word” quote although I do not plan on backtracking to track down the mistakes for the sake of having a quote. So, I plan on adding to this blog post over time, as I come back across them (expect updates).
- Is mirin and rice vinegar the same?
- Is mirin acidic?
- What is the differences between hon-mirin vs. aji-mirin/mirin-fu ?
- Sad attempts to connect mirin to ramen and dishes it has nothing to do with, like sashimi.
The amount of regurgitated content on the internet is endless
Back in the day, you had to be somewhat knowledgeable because you went to school, were well-read, or had life experiences. Nowadays, you can copy and paste yourself to acclaim or like, most, create a social media account simply touting yourself as a ‘life coach’ or ‘chef.’ I realized that was the case when the content and the online persona did not match when I heard one writer with a half-Japanese name could not pronounce a basic Japanese word, aye guey.
This section is where I babble on about all the BS on the internet, including my own.
All I know is nothing, and I’m good at babbling.
Most of these individuals hired into their positions have very little knowledge of the topic they are writing about because they are writers, first and foremost. As for myself, I am a total hack when it comes to writing, but what I know it is because I grew up Japanese American. I also love food and have worked hard at learning what I can for the last couple of decades because that is my entire career history as an autodidact.
Also, I should point out, I am an avid cook, I have done restaurant pop-ups, and I have worked a short stint as a sushi chef in a Japanese owned and operated restaurant although I am constantly learning. I never claim to know anything because I have the worst memory and forget a lot which is partially why I am constantly learning/relearning.
There are some standout media outlets, bloggers, and influencers
With the advent of the internet, everybody with an opinion can now express it on the world’s biggest soap box, the internet. Before that, all we had was a street corner and a soap box you could stand on (I remember a guy in SF Chinatown doing this, along with a Mr. Microphone), or if you were a big shot, TV, radio, and for the Hearst’s, newspaper.
I will be citing the sources who seem to always get it right/are right (they are in or have been added to my circle of trust) although there is no reason to point out the others who struggle putting on their pants.
I don’t wear pants.
Unfortunately, the byproduct of that power are all the whiny Yelpers, hack media outlets out for clickbait, and influencers doing it all for the likes. So misinformation is rampant because if you want to tout yourself as a food influencer, it does not matter if you know anything about the subject matter.
Fortunately for us, we have some old school and respected media outlets who will turn to experts with knowledge of the subject matter for their write-ups, and they are not like the aforementioned, who want everybody to think they are the expert on the subject. These are the outlets I hope to highlight and provide links to their site.
First things first
Is sweet rice wine (mirin) and rice vinegar (komezu) the same?
No, just like beer and vodka are not the same as a white vinegar.
On a similar note, If you get vinegar confused with sherry, you have had some bad sherry.
The first assumption most “Westerners” (there is a quotation mark because that is a stereotype, and stupid is not exclusive) make about Asia, especially about the Japanese, is that everything comes from rice which is not totally off the mark.
Whichever region of the world you live in, you will utilize the most abundant and thriving crop, and in Europe, the potato is king, especially in Belarus.
Where things get silly is that in Europe, vinegar and vodka come from grains/potatoes, and in Japan, rice vinegar/wine also comes from grain/rice. Although, there does not seem to be the same confusion about whether or not vodka and vinegar are the same because most content creators have Eurocentric backgrounds. BTW, all alcohol, like vodka and sake, can be made into vinegar.
My circle of trust resources
- Like always, I have to suggest you use Just One Cookbook as your goto resource.
- It is good to know and see Healthline have solid information.
Mirin, Sake/Nihonshu, and Komezu
These are the Japanese names and the translations of mirin, sake/nihonshu, and komezu by Kikkoman, a trusted source:
- What is sweet rice wine (mirin): a seasoning used in Japanese cuisine. Mirin is also consumed as a beverage. It is a very sweet liquor containing approximately 14% alcohol content and 40 to 50% sugar content. In Japanese cuisine, mirin is used in simmered dishes and noodle soup base, as well as in kabayaki (thick and savory soy sauce-flavored) sauce and teriyaki dishes to add luster. The alcohol content helps eliminate raw odors, such as those from fish, improves flavor infusion and helps ingredients to retain structure during simmering. The sugar content imparts a sweetness to cooked dishes, luster to teriyaki bastes, and when heated mirin produces an even more pleasant and savory aroma. Soy sauce and mirin are a delectable combination, by using in equal parts, 1 : 1, you will be able to create the basic tastes of Japanese flavor. [1]
- Rice wine (sake/nihonshu): sake, a fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice, also is frequently used as a seasoning in cooking, just as wine is. Besides adding its own flavor, sake helps other flavors to be absorbed, counteracts strong odors and tenderizes meat. Sake can be used for teriyaki sauce, marinades and sake-steamed shellfish. [2]
- What is rice vinegar (komezu): this vinegar is milder and has a gentler flavor than fruit and wine vinegars. Traditionally-brewed rice vinegars, which are fermented for several months, are superior to those that are synthetically produced. Rice vinegar, like other vinegar, helps food keep longer, prevents vegetables from discoloring and removes bitterness. Rice vinegar is used in dressings, sushi rice and pickles. [3]
“Red and white wines contain five times the acid than that in sake, notably the tart tasting tartaric acid. Sake contains none. Wines also contain the sour tasting acid ( vinegar ), at a level eight times greater than found in sake” Yet, some media outlets get sake (rice wine) and vinegar confused.
All the information is out there, and any competent writer should be able to regurgitate the content provided by knowledgeable experts like the Sake School of America.
Why the confusion between sweet cooking wine and vinegar
Rice vinegar, mirin, and sake are all made from rice, and it is the 3rd most popular inquiry on Google. Although like usual, JOC to the rescue of answering if mirin and rice vinegar are the same and why the confusion:
“The short answer is NO. You may find some websites or online forums that suggest rice vinegar to replace sake and mirin. However, part of the confusion is that rice vinegar is sometimes labeled as rice wine vinegar.”
– JustOneCookbook.com
I do not strictly attribute it to that, and I attribute it to writers who do not know anything about the things they are writing about, and they are not recomposing/regurgitating the content correctly. That is the culprit as I had stated earlier.
The top Japanese mirin and rice vinegar brands
Below are the top brands of sweet rice wine (mirin) and rice vinegar brands (komezu) all categorized by pricing, but in alphabetical order:
- Affordable ($)
- Moderate ($$)
- High-end ($$$)
Popular and the highest quality Japanese rice vinegar brand and their ingredients
I have included not only white rice vinegars, but also brown rice (genmai) vinegar.
“Brown rice is more nutrient-dense than white rice. Because of this, brown rice may help reduce blood sugar levels and aid in weight management efforts.” – GoodRX.com
Iio Jozo
One the highest quality Japanese rice vinegars available by Iio Jozo which is grown without pesticides and made in Miyazu, Kyoto, Japan by a 123 year old vinegar company.
Kikkoman
In the words of Kikkoman “Kikkoman® Rice Vinegar is milder in flavor than other vinegars. There is also a hint of sweetness from the rice it is made from. The well-balanced acidity is excellent as an addition not only to Asian but also to Hispanic, European and American dishes.”
Marukan
This is the brand and bottle I grew up with, and it is what I think of when someones says “Japanese rice vinegar.” Unlike other brands, Marukan only does rice vinegar, and they have over 370 years of experience making rice vinegar. That is probably also the reason why they offer a quality organic rice vinegar that is USDA certified, non-GMO, gluten free, and vegan certified at a very competitive price.
https://amzn.to/3YzYIxFMizkan says “Natural Rice Vinegar is versatile enough to use in hot or cold dishes to enhance flavors.”
Made from 100% white rice, this Japanese rice vinegar has a clean, sweet and acidic flavor. Mix it with soy sauce, ginger and garlic to easily marinate meat, seafood, fish and vegetables with an infusion of Japanese flavors.
Mizkan
Mizkan Premium Japanese Brown Rice (Genmai) Vinegar Made from 100% unpolished brown rice, this dark vinegar has a bold, nutty flavor. Like the above, you can mix it with soy sauce, ginger and garlic to easily marinate meat, seafood, fish and vegetables with an infusion of Japanese flavors. This is a product of Japan.
Be careful which rice vinegar you purchase because there are two popular types of products that often get confused from one another: 1. Rice Vinegar and 2. Seasoned Rice Vinegar (includes salt and sugar which is great for sushi rice).
Seasoned rice vinegar can be used for sushi rice (sushi meshi/shari su) to vegetables and salad dressing.
| BRAND | PRICE/SIZE | INGREDIENTS |
|---|---|---|
| Iio Jozo Pure Rice Vinegar | Japanese Pantry $44.25 16.9 fl.oz. Toiro $40 / 16.9 fl.oz. | Water, Rice. |
| Kikkoman | Amazon $12+ / 20 fl.oz. | Rice Vinegar, Water, Diluted with Water to 4.2% Acidity (42 Grain). |
| Marukan | Amazon $8 / 12 fl.oz. | Rice Vinegar (Water, Rice). |
| Marukan Organic | Amazon $14-$15 Qty 2 12 fl.oz. | Organic Rice Vinegar (Water, Organic Rice) 4.2% Acidity. |
| Mizkan | Amazon $9-$14 24 fl.oz. | Rice Vinegar and Water. Diluted with Water to 4.2% Acidity (42 Grain). |
| Mizkan Premium | Amazon $14-15 16.9 fl.oz. | 100% White Rice, Rice vinegar, Water |
| Mizkan Pure Brown Rice | Amazon $14+ 16.9 fl.oz. | Brown Rice, Water |
Popular and the highest quality Japanese mirin type, brand, and their ingredients
Rice vinegar (komezu) contains no alcohol and it is acidic whereas a 1). true sweet cooking wine (hon-mirin) contains upwards of 14% alcohol and 2). 1% to 8% for “taste/mirin-style” and 3). less than 1% for “mirin-like” (mirin-fu).
Back’n’the day, like sherry, people drank mirin although you might not know that since one major media outlet does not know the difference between the two.
Fukuraijyun
Fukuraijyun Traditionally Brewed Hon Mirin Sweet Rice Wine by Hakusen Shuzou Co., Ltd. Hakusen Shuzo, a 170-year-old, family-run brewery located in the small town of Kawabe, the Gifu Prefecture in Japan. Processed using traditional methods invented in the Edo period, Fukuraijyun Hon Mirin literally provides the genuine taste of mirin sweet rice sake.
Mizkan
Mizkan mirin is a very affordable mirin-like product, and Mizkan has it labeled as “ideal for teriyaki and plum sauce.”
Morita
Morita Organic Mirin-type seasoning is a sweet cooking sake made in the same way as hon mirin, with salt added. The way it differs from your typical mirin is that it contains organic rice and organic sugar and is certified as organic in Japan. The end product enhances your other ingredients by adding a beautiful luster and sophisticated sweetness to your cooking.
Kikkoman
When it comes to mirin, Kikkoman’s aji-mirin is the most notorious in the Japanese and Japanese American community and it is used heavily in homes and in restaurants.
Ohsawa
Ohsawa is a private label brand by Jean Richardson, Japan Gold USA (formerly known as Gold Mine Natural Food Company) out of Poway, CA. Due to her, this brand is able to deliver a legit mirin that is competitively priced and widely available in the US (Kroger, Walmart, Amazon, Vitacost, Ralphs, and the list goes on).
Kikkoman
“Kotteri” is a word that I know because my love of ramen and dislike of Tenkaippin’s kotteri ramen which I had when I was in Shibuya. It means “thick/heavy,” although Kikkoman describes it as “…because the sugar in Kotteri is already dissolved, it’s easier to blend with other ingredients. It’s also less likely to burn when used in sautéed or grilled dishes. As part of a marinade, Kotteri enables the flavors of all the seasonings to better penetrate the meat to increase overall flavor. ” It also includes vinegar!?
Kokonoe
Founded in 1772, Kokonoe mirin has a history of almost 250 years as a mirin manufacturer. Since the Edo period in Japan, they meticulously and conscientiously craft their mirin by hand, passing the traditional process down to their generations of artisans for a lasting flavor of yesteryear.
Takara
In the words of Takara USA “Takara has been making mirin for over 170 years and is known as #1 Mirin brand in Japan.” Like many products for the domestic USA, they are produced here in the US and the same goes for Takara USA. Their Takara mirin is brewed with Calrose from the Sacramento Valley. The brand hypes they do not use HFCS, but you can clearly see that they use corn syrup, and if you want to know the difference, go check out Healthline “High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Just Like Sugar, or Worse?“
Liquor laws make finding hon-mirin hard to find (and the sale of) in the United States due to the alcohol content, and I often have a hard time finding even Kikkoman Manjo aji-mirin in Asian markets outside of California.
Oh, how I miss Mitsuwa, Tokyo Central, Marukai, and Seiwa, all within a 3-6 block radius from one another.
| BRAND/ TYPE | PRICE/SIZE | INGREDIENTS/ ATTRIBUTES |
|---|---|---|
| Hakusen Shuzou Co., Ltd. Hon-mirin | Japanese Taste $27.95 / 500 ml Amazon $60-$70 / 500 ml | Glutinous rice (from Japan), malted rice (from Japan), rice spirit. Made in Japan. |
| Mizkan Mirin Mirin-fu | Amazon $3 / 12 fl.oz. Walmart $3 / 12 fl.oz. | Corn syrup, Fermented Rice Extract (rice, alcohol, salt and citric acid), Water, and Salt. |
| Morita Organic Mirin Hon-Mirin | Amazon $27 / 16.6 fl.oz. | Organic Rice, Organic Malted Rice, Salt, Organic Sugar, Alcohol. |
| Ohsawa Genuine Mirin (Yamaki) Hon-Mirin | Amazon $19-$20 / 12.68 fl.oz. | Organic Sweet Rice, Organic Distilled Rice Wine (water, organic sweet rice, koji seed), Organic Rice Koji (Rice, koji seed), Sea Salt. USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten Free |
| Kikkoman Manjo Aji Mirin Mirin-style | Amazon $17-$18 / 60 fl.oz. | Glucose Syrup, Water, Alcohol, Rice, Corn Syrup, Salt. |
| Kikkoman Kotteri Mirin-style | Amazon $6 / 10 fl.oz. | Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Fermented Rice Seasoning, Vinegar, Sodium Benzoate, Less than 1/10 of 1% as a preservative. Contains Sulfites. |
mirin Jun mikawa | $41-$43 / 500 ml | Glutinous Rice (domestic/Japan), Koji Rice. |
| Takara Mirin-fu | Direct $9-10 700 ml Amazon $40+ QTY2 / 23.7 fl.oz. | Sake (brewed with Calrose rice from the Sacramento Valley, koji, yeast, and water), corn syrup, dextrose, and water. Kosher certified, sulfite free, and gluten free. |
Is mirin acidic?
On one site, they should be testing their knowledge in this kitchen because they are obviously regurgitating without any firsthand knowledge of the subject matter.
“…and mirin is a big contributor to that. Sweet and acidic, mirin is something you should have in your arsenal of pantry items.”
Yea, no. Sad, if you work in a kitchen testing ingredients, but you cannot get this right.
Acidic? Huh, like most content on the internet, I know the person writing the content has never had it, and they are regurgitating what other sites may have gotten confused because they are mixing up mirin with rice vinegar. Why? Is it because the writer is like “all these ching chong ingredients, are all like the same, like you know” (as an Asian person, and a Japanese American, a vinegar and sweet cooking wine are two different things).
If you had mirin, you would know it is closer to sake because it is a type of rice wine. If they knew that, then they would not be putting out content touting it as acidic because a white wine (is a grape or rice acidic?) may be, but not mirin (a common substitute to mirin is sherry, and a sherry has a low acidity level compared to other (white) wines, via sherrynotes.com).
My circle of trust resources
- If you read anything on this blog, I always refer people to Nami’san and crew at Just One Cookbook who will almost always get it right, if not all the time.
- From what I have read, only Annabel Johnson got it right with SimplyCalledFood.com.
What is the differences between hon-mirin vs. aji-mirin/mirin-fu?
“Now, the sweetness of Mirin doesn’t come from adding sugar. Instead, it comes from the fermentation, causing the carbohydrates to sweeten it up.”
Yup, partially true, but context matters, and it is not fully clarified, although this is a legit resource.
I have seen this also going around which eludes to hon-mirin which in Japanese means “true/genuine” and is used to denote the quality of the ingredient from katsuobushi to mirin. Where the issue is, is when we do not distinguish between hon-mirin from “Manjo” Aji-Mirin, a widely available product by Kikkoman is not a true mirin. The Kikkoman product is meant to taste (aji) like mirin, but sugar is added (versus a byproduct in the production): Glucose Syrup, Water, Alcohol, Rice, Corn Syrup, Salt (sugar in the form of glucose syrup and corn syrup is added and salt for other reasons).
My circle of trust resources
- Yoshiko aka Cooking with Yoshiko, is a genuine nihonjin (Japanese person) living in I think Australia has legit content because of her extensive background as a chef.
- HOLY cow, I never seen this blog till now, it is called Crock of Time, and I am impressed. It is by Cory Hughart out Cleveland, Ohio.
Sad attempts to connect mirin to ramen and dishes it has nothing to do with, like sashimi.
“…In Japanese cuisine, mirin is used in savory cooking. It is often paired with soy sauce to make a braising liquid, as with this Braised Pork Ramen recipe (
They use a Japanese person to cite legit uses, but they are compelled to throw in and promote their fusion “ramen” recipes.pictured above)” along with “… including noodles, sashimi, tonkatsu and tempura.”
What is the actual Japanese braised pork recipe you ask that this network is playing off of? It is rafute (Okinawa) or chashu which are both traditional braised pork dishes, and they are not ramen dishes. Except this site cannot help but push their fusion recipes or link mirin to 1). noodles, they just generically say noodles, but for tsuyu (broth), yes, it is a major component. 2). sashimi, raw fish? Is this them just dumping words out that sound, you know “Asiany,” because it would be a stretch to say for nikiri, and I can bet you that a Tom, Dick, or a Layla would have no clue what that is. 3). tonkatsu, it is not for tonkatsu which is like a Austrian and German schnitzel (a deep-fried breaded pork) and the sauce is made up of mostly fruits and veggies. A sauce that most people buy because who makes their own worcestershire or ketchup? 4). tempura, yea, it’s not for tempura, but it is for the dipping sauce.
My circle of trust resources
- These resources should not be a surprise, but Umami-Insider.com of course gets it right.
- Japantimes.co.jp is also another usual suspect of sites I rely on and this article has more content that most sites have not regurgitated yet.
- The second, MasterClass who also has classes with Niki Nakayama of n/naka although all of their content is not all great/good.
Resources
- [1] Kikkoman / glossary / mirin
- [2] Kikkoman / glossary / sake
- [3] Kikkoman / glossary / rice vinegar
- Kokonoe.co.jp
