View source for Umeshu

{{Short description|Japanese liqueur}}
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{{original research|date=November 2012}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
[[File:Umeshu on the rocks.jpg|right|thumb|Umeshu on the Rocks (''Umeshu Rokku'')]]
[[File:MET DP138304.jpg|thumb|[[Yashima Gakutei]]]]
{{nihongo|'''''Umeshu'''''|梅酒}} is a Japanese [[liqueur]] made by [[steeping]] ''[[ume]]'' plums (while still unripe and green) in {{nihongo|liquor|焼酎|''[[shōchū]]''}} and [[sugar]]. It has a sweet, [[sour|sour taste]], and an [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]] content of 10–15%. Famous brands of ''umeshu'' include [[Choya Umeshu|Choya]], [[Takara Holdings|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 [[cocktail]]s. '''Umeshu on the Rocks''' (pronounced ''umeshu rokku''), '''Umeshu Sour''' (pronounced ''umeshu sawa''), '''Umeshu Tonic''' (with [[tonic water]]), and '''Umeshu Soda''' (with [[carbonated water]]) are popular. It is sometimes mixed with [[green tea]] (o-cha-wari) or warm water (o-yu-wari). ''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 flavours and perfumes to emulate the taste of plums. Umeshu which is made from exclusively plum fruit (without additives) will be labelled as '''Honkaku Umeshu''' and will typically be made only from ume fruit, sugar, and alcohol.<ref name="umeshu">{{citation |url= https://finewinemaster.com/a-simple-guide-to-plum-wine/ |title=A Simple Guide to Plum Wine |date=3 September 2018 |access-date=2020-05-19 }}</ref>

==Homemade umeshu==
* Main ingredients include:
** [[Ume]] fruits
** Sugar (rock)
** [[Shōchū]]
* Traditional recipe:
** Ume fruit 1&nbsp;kg
** Sugar 500g–1&nbsp;kg (rock/cubes)
** Shōchū 1.8l
* After three months in a cold and dark place, it is ready to be consumed (although it is better to wait at least six months)
Umeshu should be allowed to mature for at least nine months.

==See also==
* ''[[Suanmeitang]]'', Chinese plum beverage
* ''[[Maesil-ju]]'', Korean plum wine

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Umeshu}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.nakatafoods.co.jp/|title=Nakata Foods website}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.choya.com/|title=Choya website}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/|title=Takara Shuzo website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050918102409/http://japanesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa061001a.htm A recipe for umeshu]
* [https://www.umeshuthai.com/ Umeshuthai]

[[Category:Rice wine]]
[[Category:Japanese liqueurs]]
[[Category:Plum liqueurs]]

{{Japanese food and drink}}
{{Distilled-drink-stub}}
{{Japan-cuisine-stub}}