Mirin (味醂 or みりん, japanese: [miɾiɴ]) is a type of rice wine and a common ingredient in japanese cooking. it is similar to sake but with a lower alcohol content and higher sugar content. 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. three types of mirin are common. the first is hon mirin (literally: true mirin), which contains about 14% alcohol and is produced by a 40 to 60 day mashing (saccharification) process. the second is shio mirin (literally: salt mirin), which contains a minimum of 1.5% salt to prevent consumption in order to avoid alcohol tax. ...

Source: Wikipedia