Umeshu


Umeshu is a Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume fruits in liquor and sugar. It has a sweet, sour taste, and an alcohol content of 10–15%. Famous brands of umeshu include Choya, Takara Shuzo and Matsuyuki. Varieties are available with whole ume fruits contained in the bottle, and some people make their own umeshu at home.
Japanese restaurants serve many different varieties of umeshu and also make cocktails. Umeshu on the Rocks, Umeshu Sour, Umeshu Tonic, Umeshu Soda and the Flaming Plum cocktail are popular. It is sometimes mixed with green tea or warm water. Umeshu can be served at different temperatures; chilled or with ice, room temperature, or even hot in the winter.
Umeshu can be made either from real plum fruit, or using additive flavors and perfumes to emulate the taste of plums. Umeshu which is made from exclusively plum fruit will be labelled as Honkaku Umeshu and will typically be made only from ume fruit, sugar, and alcohol.

Homemade umeshu

Umeshu should be allowed to ripen for at least nine months.