Tamanoi, Japanese Rice Vinegar, 20L
Mild rice vinegar, made from rice, in the catering drum.
Japanese rice vinegar with the soft, gently sweet character that suits sushi rice and delicate dishes, brewed from rice with no wheat in it. At 20L this is the volume format for a high-throughput kitchen seasoning rice all day. Tamanoi has brewed vinegar in Japan since 1907.
Smaller kitchen? The same vinegar comes in a 1.8L bottle.
Why Operators Choose This
- Made from rice: brewed from rice with no wheat, a clean acid for the kitchen.
- Mild acidity: softer and rounder than wine or malt vinegar.
- Volume format: 20L keeps a high-output sushi or prep line stocked.
- Proven maker: Tamanoi has specialised in Japanese vinegar since 1907.
How to Use
- Sushi rice: warm with sugar and salt, then fold through hot rice at scale.
- Pickles: the base for batch sunomono and tsukemono.
- Dressings: whisk into ponzu, sesame dressings and marinades.
- Cross-cuisine: a gentler acid for slaws, sauces and reductions.
Komezu (米酢) means rice vinegar, made by fermenting rice first into alcohol and then into vinegar. Because it starts from rice rather than grain spirit or wine, it has a mild acidity and a soft, faintly sweet character, and it is brewed without wheat. It is one of the foundation seasonings of Japanese cooking and the base of sushi-su, the seasoned vinegar that gives sushi rice its gentle tang. Tamanoi, founded in 1907, is one of Japan's established rice vinegar makers.
Learn more: Cooking Sushi Rice: A Masterclass in Rice
What does Japanese rice vinegar taste like?
Clean, mild and gently sweet, with a soft acidity that rounds a dish rather than cutting through it. It has none of the harsh sharpness of malt vinegar or the fruity edge of wine vinegar; instead it tastes of a light, mellow tang with a faint rice sweetness behind it. That softness is exactly why it suits delicate work at volume, seasoning sushi rice, dressing raw fish and making light pickles, where a sharper vinegar would dominate.
| Type | Komezu 米酢 (Japanese rice vinegar) |
| Brand | Tamanoi (founded 1907) |
| Origin | Japan |
| Net Volume / Format | 20L catering pack |
| Best Used As | Sushi rice, pickles, dressings at volume |
Why is this rice vinegar labelled gluten free?
Because it is brewed from rice, not from wheat or grain spirit. Some cheaper vinegars are made from or blended with wheat-derived alcohol, which is why a rice-only vinegar is labelled to make the distinction clear for kitchens catering to particular diets. The pack is always the source of truth for dietary information, but a vinegar made purely from rice is the natural choice when you need to keep wheat out of the seasoning.
How do I make sushi rice with it?
Warm the rice vinegar gently with sugar and salt until they dissolve, then fold it through freshly cooked, still-hot rice with a cutting motion, fanning to cool for a glossy finish. A common starting ratio is roughly 100ml of vinegar mix per 1kg of cooked rice, scaled up for batch service and adjusted to taste. Use it warm, not boiling, and avoid mashing the grains. See our sushi rice masterclass for the full method.
How should I store a 20L pack of rice vinegar?
Keep it sealed in a cool, dark store away from direct heat and light. Vinegar is self-preserving thanks to its acidity, so it keeps well and does not need refrigerating. Decant working amounts into a smaller bottle for the line and keep the main container closed. A harmless haze or sediment over time is natural and not a sign of spoilage.
SKU : S0323