Hon Mirin
Hon mirin is a high-quality Japanese sweet liqueur and one of the most important seasonings in Japanese cuisine, where it is used in many ways. The most famous example is probably teriyaki sauce. Hon mirin means "real" mirin, which differs from the cheaper variants, the so-called "fake" mirin or "mirin-style spices", which are not as high-quality in terms of ingredients and only have a low alcohol content or are salted (shio mirin).
Hon mirin consists exclusively of natural ingredients, namely steamed glutinous rice, rice koji and rice shochu, and ferments for at least 40 to 60 days. During this time, the enzymes in the rice koji break down the starch and protein in the glutinous rice to produce various sugars, amino acids and flavor components. The alcohol from the shochu added later interrupts further fermentation, similar to the production of port wine.
