Japanese Rice Vinegar (Komezu) for Sushi Rice

In the video "How To Make Delicious Onigiri At Home," the inari-style rice is made with sushi rice: warm rice mixed with vinegar, sugar and salt. Aoi recommends Japanese vinegar, saying it has a slightly sweet taste and goes well with rice.

What is Japanese rice vinegar?

• Vinegar brewed from rice. In Japanese it is called komezu (米酢). Under Japan's agricultural standard (JAS), a grain vinegar can be called rice vinegar when it uses at least 40 g of rice per liter.
• Grain vinegar is a different product. Japanese supermarkets also sell kokumotsu-su (穀物酢, grain vinegar), which is often brewed from a blend of grains. Some brands include wheat, so if you avoid wheat, check the label.
• Seasoned rice vinegar is different too. Bottles labeled "seasoned rice vinegar" or "sushi vinegar" already contain sugar and salt.

How it's used in the video

• 8:39 Vinegar, sugar and salt are mixed into warm rice to make sushi rice. Aoi recommends Japanese vinegar here. The video doesn't name a brand.

Tips

• Mix it in while the rice is warm. Warm rice takes up the vinegar evenly.
• Using seasoned vinegar? Leave out the sugar and salt, or use less, then taste.

Can't find it?

• Look for plain (unseasoned) rice vinegar in the Asian section of supermarkets or at Asian grocery stores.
• Use another mild vinegar in a pinch, such as white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. The flavor will be a little different.

The other Japanese items in this video: komatsuna, aburaage and the drop lid.

Related recipes

• Mazekomi Inari (Inari-Style Mixed Sushi Rice): the inari rice from the video
• Chirashi Sushi (Scattered Sushi Rice)
• Bean Sprouts in Sanbaizu (Sweet Soy Vinegar Dressing)
• Cabbage Goma-zu Ae (Sesame Vinegar Salad)

Sources and further reading

• Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for brewed vinegar: definition of rice vinegar (Japanese)