You can drink it without mixing anything because it tastes so unique. But if you like your wine chilled, you can pair it with some ice. The alcohol content of the drink is quite high at 12%, so keep that in mind when you start a bottle. Drinking moderate amounts of wine can bring a ton of health benefits. That’s also the case with Umeshu. Umeshu is known to provide relief from exhaustion and constipation. It contains plenty of calcium and minerals. Umeshu prevents diarrhea and is very stimulative for your appetite. So you get a bit tipsy and healthier, all in one. #3 Markets sell two types of Umeshu Nishimura, M.; Kume, H.; Kadowaki, A.; Gato, N.; Nishihira, J. “Effects and safety of daily ingestion of plum extract on blood pressure: randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel group comparison study.” Functional Foods in Health and Disease, 2017.

Suntory Plum Wine (サントリー梅酒山崎樽熟成) is a Japanese plum wine made by the large Japanese beverage company Suntory. Suntory is not commonly known for making umeshu, but they used their knowledge of making whisky to prepare a unique kind of umeshu. The bottle’s hue shows off the whole, green plums inside; and upon observing the texture of the plums, one might be reminded of an unusual, wrinkly olive. But don’t be mistaken and don’t be foolish to dismiss the luscious plums inside! When you pour, you’ll see that the sake also exhibits a light amber shade, and when you taste it, you’ll want more! With just the right amount of sweet, sour and tart, this works well as a “bridge” sake for beginners.When you enter the restaurant, you get a 2-hour timer. Within this time, you can consume all the food you want. But the best part is you can add the Umeshu to your buffet and you will get to drink all the Umeshu you want for 2 hours. This is not very expensive and can be added to the soft drink plan for only 500 Yen. There’s no doubt that many of us who’ve never tried sake are still familiar with Kikkoman, the global producer and distributor of products across the spectrum of Asian cuisine. It makes sense, then, that they would also have an umeshu product as well. Their 12.5% ABV plum wine is rich and sweet, and has probably been the first glass of umeshu for many around the world. Hakutsuru Brewing Company

Nevertheless, the analysis of wines discovered that plum wine had essential mineral components vital for health including manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and potassium. To add icing on the cake, the wine was found to have significantly lesser histamines (a compound associated with inducing headaches and worsening hangovers) compared to other red wines. Variations

Takemura, Shigeki & Yoshimasu, Kouichi & Mure, Kanae & Fukumoto, Jin & Nishio, Nobuhiro & Kitano, Naomi & Kishida, Kunihiro & Yano, Fumiko & Mitani, Takahiko & Takeshita, Tatsuya & Miyashita, Kazuhisa. “Are Umezu polyphenols in the Japanese plum (Prunus Mume) protective against mild hypertension and oxidation? Evidence from a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.” Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2013. Turkish sour plums – A reader in Europe got them from a Turkish market and used them in this recipe. He said his umeshu tasted as good as the one he had in Japan!

Suiryu Umeshu (睡龍梅酒) is made by Kubo Honke Shuzo (久保本家酒造) which is a brewery established in Nara prefecture in 1702.In Japan, we have a liquor called “White Liquor” (ホワイトリカー), whichwe use for making plum wine or fruit wine. If you can’t find it, don’t sweat it and use shochu or vodka. Umeshu is a liqueur made from a straightforward process of steeping ume fruit in sake, shochu or other spirit, often with sugar. The mixture is left undisturbed for at least six months, and when the time is right, it is bottled, sometimes with the fruit remaining whole inside, like this plum wine by Choya Umeshu. The alcohol needs to have at least 35% ABV. That sounds very high, but do not worry. The alcohol will be distilled and diluted with the sugar and plum mixture. This will also reduce the level of alcohol in the drink to a normal amount. Pro Tip

Sapporo Otokoume Sour (サッポロ男梅サワー) is a product made by the beverage company Sapporo. Just like the last product on this list, this is not technically an umeshu, but it is an “umeboshi sour”, meaning that the ingredients are: shochu, club soda, and umeboshi. After a year, you can finally get to enjoy your plum wine. The flavor and fragrance of the plum wine ripen as itages, so make sure to store in a cool, dark place for years to come! You might want to start making two batches if you can’t stop drinking it. 😉 Umeshu is made as a beverage. But once you are done drinking, you can also eat the plum. Plum’s inherited sourness and the sugar combine into a tasty delicatessen. One bite and all that will burst into your mouth. #5 There is no expiration date on Umeshu This distinct take on the classic mojito swaps out mint for shiso and is inspired by one of my favorite umeshu from Houraisen, which was made with shiso paste added to the extraction. Muddle the brown sugar, shiso and lime. Add the umeshu, and finish with club soda to taste. Umeshu iced coffeeThe alcohol content of the wine is also quite high at 12% and you can drink it down with ice. The drink should be consumed moderately and is known to improve heart health. A 4-ounce serving of the wine has around 160 calories. So, you should not overdo it even if you are drinking it occasionally, because that could lead to weight gain or any other kind of health issues. Where Can You Get the Best Umeshu in Japan? Shugar Market near Shibuya station – Umeshu and Fruit Liquors