Rice vinegar is a type of vinegar made from fermented rice. It is commonly used in Asian cuisine, especially Japanese, Chinese and Korean. It is characterised by a mild, sweet and sour taste, which differs from the more intense and pungent taste of traditional wine or apple cider vinegars. Rice vinegar is a key ingredient in the preparation of sushi. It is used to season sushi rice, giving it a distinctive flavour and shine. Depending on the region and the production method, rice vinegar can range from transparent to pale yellow. There are also flavoured variants, such as mirin seasoned rice vinegar or shiso vinegar, which enrich the palette of flavours in Asian cuisine.