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{{Short description|Type of rice wine used in Japanese cuisine}}
{{Other uses|Mirin (name)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = ''Mirin''
| image            = Mirinbowl.jpg
| image_size       = 300px
| caption          = ''Mirin'', sweet rice wine
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[Japan]]
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| type             = Cooking wine
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Rice]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

{{nihongo|'''Mirin'''|[[wiktionary:味醂|味醂]] {{lang|en|or}} みりん||extra={{IPA|ja|miɾiɴ|lang}}}} is a type of [[rice wine]] and a common ingredient in [[Japanese cuisine|Japanese cooking]]. It is similar to [[sake]] but with a lower [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] content and higher sugar content.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shimbo|first=Hiroko |author2=Shimbo Beitchman|others=Ming Tsai|title=The Japanese Kitchen: 250 Recipes in a Traditional Spirit|publisher=Harvard Common Press|date=2000|page=75|isbn=978-1-55832-177-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43puKgiAK2YC&pg=PA75}}</ref> The sugar content is a complex carbohydrate that forms naturally during the [[fermentation]] process; no sugars are added. The alcohol content is further lowered when the liquid is heated.

==Types==
Three types of products are marketed as ''mirin''. The first is ''hon mirin'' (literally: true mirin),<ref>{{cite book|last=Yamaguchi|first=Roy|author2=Joan Namkoong |author3=Maren Caruso |title=Hawaii Cooks: Flavors from Roy's Pacific Rim Kitchen|publisher=Ten Speed Press|date=2003|page=19|isbn=978-1-58008-454-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1GFkVQac-YC&pg=PA19}}</ref> which contains about 14% alcohol and is produced by a 40-to-60-day [[mashing]] ([[saccharification]]) process.<ref name="ZMK">{{cite web|url=http://www.honmirin.org/page/info.html|script-title=ja:本みりんの知識|trans-title=About ''hon-mirin''|publisher=全国味淋協会 (literally:Japan Mirin Association) |access-date=10 August 2013|language=ja}}</ref> The second is ''shio mirin'' (literally: salt mirin), which contains a minimum of 1.5% salt to prevent consumption and thus be exempt from alcohol tax.<ref name="TaiwanNews">{{cite news|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/static/admilk/news/961001/index_en.html |title=Diversified uses of Mirin |work=Taiwan News |access-date=7 January 2009 |archive-date=21 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221170622/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/static/admilk/news/961001/index_en.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The third are ''mirin''-like seasonings called ''shin mirin'' (literally: new mirin),<ref>{{cite book|last=Telford|first=Anthony|title=The Kitchen Hand: A Miscellany of Kitchen Wisdom|publisher=Allen & Unwin|date=2003|page=153|isbn=9781865088907 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n0m46biu3ecC&pg=PA153}}</ref> or ''mirin-fu chomiryo'' (literally: mirin-like seasoning),<ref name="Shimbo77">{{cite book|last=Shimbo-Beitchman|first=Hiroko|url=https://archive.org/details/japanesekitchen20000shim/page/77/mode/1up?q=%22synthetic+mirin%22 |url-access=registration |via=archive.org |title=The Japanese Kitchen: 250 Recipes in a Traditional Spirit|date=2000|publisher=Harvard Common Press|others=Ming Tsai|isbn=978-1-55832-177-9|page=77}}</ref> which are substitutes not actually ''mirin''.<ref name="JapanTimes2014">{{Cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/05/20/food/add-little-booze/ |title=Why not add a little booze? |date=2014-05-20 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |last=Itoh |first=Makiko |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523004246/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/05/20/food/add-little-booze/ |archive-date=2014-05-23 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> They are blends of sweetener [[glucose syrup|syrup]]s, [[flavoring]]s such as [[Kōji mold|kōji]] extracts, and [[flavour enhancer]]s.<ref name="ZMK"/> They contain less than 1% alcohol.<ref name="ZMK"/>

The term or trade name ''aji-mirin'' (literally: taste mirin) can mean various things, such as salt mirin,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kikkoman.com/en/cookbook/glossary/mirin.html |title=Glossary - Seasonings Mirin (Manjo Mirin, Kotteri Mirin) |access-date=2024-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305134629/https://www.kikkoman.com/en/cookbook/glossary/mirin.html |archive-date=2024-03-05 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Kikkoman]]}}</ref> synthetic mirin,<ref name="Shimbo77"/> or ''mirin''-like seasonings.<ref name="JapanTimes2014"/>

==Uses==
[[File:Mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine for cooking).jpg|thumb|upright=.5|A bottle of commercially produced mirin]]
In the [[Edo period]], mirin was consumed as ''[[amazake]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chiba, Machiko, J. K. Whelehan, Tae Hamamura, Elizabeth Floyd|title=Japanese Dishes for Wine Lovers|publisher=Kodansha International|date=2005|pages=12|isbn=978-4-7700-3003-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=La1juytBR0EC&pg=PA12}}</ref> [[Toso|O-toso]], traditionally consumed for the Japanese New Year, can be made by soaking a spice mixture in mirin.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20011223jg.html |title=An o-tososan a year keeps the doc away |last=Gauntner |first=John |date=31 December 2001 |work=The Japan Times |access-date=7 January 2009 |archive-date=23 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723041419/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fg20011223jg.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the [[Kansai]] style of cooking, mirin is briefly boiled before use, allowing some alcohol to evaporate. In the [[Kantō region|Kantō]] regional style, the mirin is used untreated. Kansai-style boiled mirin is called ''nikiri mirin'' ({{nihongo2|煮切り味醂}})<ref>{{cite book|last=Tsuji|first=Shizuo |author2=Mary Sutherland |author3=Ruth Reichl |author4=Yoshiki Tsuji |title=Japanese Cooking: A Simple Art|publisher=Kodansha International|date=2007|page=219|isbn=978-4-7700-3049-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fby2Er0seMMC&pg=PA219}}</ref> (literally: thoroughly boiled mirin).

Mirin adds a bright touch to grilled or broiled fish or erases the fishy smell. A small amount is often used instead of [[sugar]] and [[soy sauce]]. It is sometimes used to accompany [[sushi]].

Mirin is also an ingredient in other sauces:
* ''[[Kabayaki]] '' (grilled eel) sauce: mirin, [[soy sauce]], [[sake]], [[sugar]], fish bone (optional)<ref name="Hiroshima_Home_TV">{{Cite web |url=https://hread.home-tv.co.jp/post-118280/ |date=27 November 2021 |access-date=1 June 2022 |website=[[Hiroshima Home Television]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128001432/https://hread.home-tv.co.jp/post-118280/ |archive-date=28 November 2021 |url-status=live |language=ja |script-title=ja:【広島雑学】うなぎの名店に隠されたヒミツ 秘伝のタレに２代目の意外な経歴、昔はうなぎ以外も売っていた |trans-title=Hiroshima trivia: The secrets of a renowned eel restaurant |quote=they fill the pan with about 500 bones of eel, and simmer it for 2 to 3 hours.}}</ref>
* ''Nikiri mirin ''sauce: soy sauce, [[dashi]], mirin, [[sake]], in a ratio of 10:2:1:1 
* ''[[Sushi]] su ''(sushi rice vinaigrette): rice wine vinegar, sugar, ''nikiri mirin'' sauce
*[[Teriyaki]] sauce<ref name="Shimbo77" />

==See also==
* [[Huangjiu]] – Chinese rice wine that can be used in cooking
* [[Japanese flavorings]]
* [[Mijiu]] – Chinese rice wine that can be used in cooking

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Japanese food and drink}}
{{Portal bar|Food}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Japanese condiments]]
[[Category:Probiotic foods]]
[[Category:Rice wine]]