Hite Jinro Completes Trial Cultivation of Dedicated Brewing Rice
Specialized Variety for Distilled Soju Production
Strengthening Ingredient Competitiveness
Hite Jinro announced on November 4 that it has selected a rice variety optimized for the fermentation characteristics and flavor expression of distilled soju, and has completed trial cultivation.
The newly cultivated variety, "Juhyangmi," is a new breed developed by the National Institute of Crop Science. It was evaluated for brewing characteristics in collaboration with Hite Jinro and selected as a dedicated rice for distilled soju production. Hite Jinro has filed a trademark application for this rice under the name "Ilpum Jinro Rice."
Hite Jinro pursued this project to strengthen the ingredient competitiveness of Ilpum Jinro and to establish the identity of Korean distilled soju. The company also aims to promote domestic rice consumption and continue its commitment to mutual growth with local farmers. This year, by forming a partnership with Hongcheon County in Gangwon Province, Hite Jinro is concretely implementing co-growth with rice farming communities.
Through this trial cultivation, Hite Jinro realized the value that "good ingredients make good liquor" by scientifically considering aroma, flavor, and fermentation efficiency from the raw material stage. The dedicated brewing rice "Juhyangmi" is rich in amino acids such as leucine and phenylalanine, resulting in a deeper aroma. Compared to conventional rice, it contains 82% more iso-amyl acetate, giving it a deeper and richer fruit and floral aroma. The rice will undergo fermentation, distillation, and aging before being commercialized as a product.
With this project, Hite Jinro aims to present a high value-added utilization model for domestic rice and enhance the competitiveness of Korean distilled soju. Going forward, by using this dedicated rice, the company plans to create a clean and crisp finish for Ilpum Jinro, maximizing its unique taste by achieving both sweetness and smoothness without any off-flavors.
Oh Sungtaek, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Hite Jinro, stated, "As the world's leading soju company, Hite Jinro plans to take the lead in enhancing the value and ingredient quality of Korean soju and domestic rice. Ilpum Jinro, as a representative distilled soju of Korea, will continue to improve the quality of brewing rice and play a role as a brand that supports the domestic rice industry and promotes mutual growth."
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