82. Minetakara 100ml

Hon-mirin, a brewer's alcohol-based sake

All customers who tried it at the store were surprised by its rich sweetness. The rice used is 100% domestic, and the mash is made from domestic non-glutinous rice, which becomes rice koji, steamed domestic glutinous rice, and brewer's alcohol. It is then pressed after 60 to 70 days and aged for three years. This is a raw mirin that is not heat-treated.

Because it is based on brewed alcohol (tasteless and odorless alcohol), you won't notice the distinctive shochu aroma and it will have a strong sweetness even if you drink it as is. It has a very strong umami flavor, so you can use it in smaller quantities than regular mirin.

A small mirin brewery in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture

Among all the craftsmen I have met, the president, Mr. Ogasawara, is a straightforward person who always says, "I like what I like! I don't like what I don't like!" and has a clear expression and way of speaking. When I told him that the workshop was very clean, he replied, "Of course," without changing his expression. "We make things that people will eat," he said, and the first thing he teaches new staff is how to wash their hands.

It is easy to imagine that a fair amount of rice falls onto the floor during preparation, but it is clear that they are so careful in cleaning that there is not a trace of it to be found. All the tools and equipment are shiny, and the metal parts and rubber parts of the hoses are disassembled and polished to the finest detail. But for Ogasawara, it is not something he is trying hard for, it is something he takes for granted.

He also said that people around him have started describing his work as "particular" or "ultimate" in order to satisfy his desire for high-quality ingredients and manufacturing methods, but he doesn't like these expressions. I feel that these simple words overlap with the appeal of mirin.

Mild fragrance and easy to use in cooking

Mineta kara is made with brewed alcohol, so you won't notice the smell or taste of alcohol, making it easy to use in cooking. It is especially recommended for boiled vegetables and dishes that can be completed in a short time. It has a rich sweetness and flavor even without using sugar. One bottle of mirin can fulfill various roles, such as preventing the food from falling apart, adding shine and making it easier for the flavor to penetrate the ingredients, and deodorizing.

Mirin syrup

I am often asked, "Can Hon Mirin be used for anything other than cooking?", but by boiling it down, the sweetness increases, so it is also recommended for making syrups. Since Minetakara is made with brewed alcohol, it is very sweet even as is, but when boiled down to about half the volume, it becomes a thick, rich, sweet syrup.

Use it as a syrup for breakfast or desserts, such as on bread or yogurt, or in tea. It has a rich flavor with a caramel-like sweetness. It is especially recommended for vanilla ice cream, and when you pour the syrup over it, it has a mellow taste like custard pudding, making it a luxurious dessert that allows you to enjoy both ice cream and pudding.