Mirin

Mirin is a special type of sauce used in Japanese cooking. It is made from rice that is fermented, or left to sit for a while. This gives it a sweet taste and a syrupy consistency.

Think of mirin like a sugary syrup, kind of like the syrup you put on pancakes. But instead of being made of sugar, it's made of fermented rice. It's often used in Japanese dishes like teriyaki or stir-fry to add a sweet flavor and to help tenderize the meat. It's also used in some sushi recipes.

When you add mirin to your food, it helps to balance out the other flavors and make everything taste better. Mirin is also a key ingredient in making sake, which is a type of Japanese rice wine.

So, mirin is like a sweet and syrupy sauce made from fermented rice that's used in lots of yummy Japanese dishes to make them taste better!