{"product_id":"minou-jungenmai-black-vinegar","title":"Minou Brown Rice Kurozu — Japanese Black Vinegar","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eBrown rice kurozu from a Gifu vinegar maker founded in 1876 — clean, sharp, and precise, with a rounded body. Acidity 4.5%.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eKurozu is Japanese black vinegar. This one is brewed from brown rice rather than polished rice. It carries more depth and body than standard rice vinegar, and it is still uncommon in American kitchens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMinou Jungenmai Black Vinegar is brewed by a house in Gifu Prefecture that has been making vinegar since 1876. Their working principle is that vinegar begins with sake. They mill the rice themselves, cultivate the koji, and build the rice mash in stages before acetic fermentation ever starts. That upstream work is where the character of the finished vinegar is set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJungenmai means pure brown rice. Brown rice is the only ingredient — no added alcohol, no colorant, no added sugar, nothing else. What reaches the bottle is rice, water, time, and the work of the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe result is a black vinegar that runs clean. The acidity sits at 4.5%, the body is rounded and controlled, and the finish is short enough to use raw in a vinaigrette without taking the plate over. It still holds up in braises and reductions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAyako, Umami Curator at The House of Umami, visited the brewery in the mountains of Gifu and toured the production floor. She found a facility far larger than she had pictured, run under quality controls she describes as uncompromising. She tasted through the line on site. In HOU-hosted tasting sessions with chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, this vinegar's clean, sharp profile has drawn especially positive feedback. This is the bottle she keeps for herself.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The House of Umami","offers":[{"title":"1-Bottle | 12.2 fl oz (360ml)","offer_id":51400790507838,"sku":"H4UBJ05A","price":19.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bundle of 2 | 12.2 fl. oz. (360ml) each","offer_id":54362713948478,"sku":"H4UBJ05A-2","price":37.6,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Bundle of 6 | 12.2 fl. oz. (360ml) each","offer_id":51400790540606,"sku":"H4UBJ05A-6","price":112.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0821\/3240\/2494\/files\/05___360ml_01_021425.jpg?v=1739772060","url":"https:\/\/thehouseofumami.com\/products\/minou-jungenmai-black-vinegar","provider":"The House of Umami","version":"1.0","type":"link"}