If you think shochu or vodka is not giving you the right results, you should try to find what is known as ‘white liquor’ in Japan. This is used widely in Umeshu making and will give you the best flavor of the plums. Shochu will also give you great results, as it has a very high alcohol percentage at 45%. Although the blossoms’ popularity eventually came to be surpassed by that of the more fetching cherry blossoms, the ume blossoms are still much loved in Japan today. During the traditional blooming months of February and March, there are still festivals held in public parks, temples, and shrines, to celebrate the delicate plum blossoms. Akashi Sake Brewery pride themselves on maintaining a traditional handcrafted approach to creating the finest Japanese sake. Brewing superior sake by hand requires all five senses to perfect with the natural processes of fermentation and flavour development. Even the hushed sounds of natural fermentation at work can be heard in the cool, quiet rooms of their brewery. Their plum sake has a very nice rose color. When slightly chilled, the aroma is more restrained and the sake goes down very smoothly. On my second pour, I took more time and allowed it to sit in the wine glass; before taking the very last sip, I experienced something grand—a fruity fragrance immediately followed by a luxurious bouquet aroma! Wow, is this nature’s perfume? This must be what Japan smells like when the plum blossoms are in bloom. Tamitsu co. ltd, the company behind Miyazaki plum wine, has a long history in winemaking and has specialized its Umeshu flavor with different variations.

Fact: Although the ume flower blooms during the early-mid spring, the ume plums necessary for making umeshu only ripen during the early summer. In brewing its select sakes, Akashi Sake Brewery uses only the finest ingredients, which are all produced locally. For example, the company uses the yamada-nishiki variety of rice "a superior strain" grown in the region just north of Akashi City.

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While you are at it, their beverage selection is to die for. And you will find several sake and Umeshu wines, many kinds of fruit wines, and even several varieties of the traditional shochu drink. The beverages are also made with a signature touch with a hint of special spices like sesame, chestnut, and other ingredients. Break out from your boring old Umeshu tour, and taste the heritage of Japan in this restaurant with your friends and family. The specialty of this wine is that it doesn’t use conventional green plum. The fruit is harvested when the palm has the sour taste but also has a hint of sweet. You can smell the plum in this wine vividly, but it also smells like white rice, which enhances the Ume flavor and gives you quite a ride. Finally, let’s finish it up by talking about some of the nation’s favorite brands of umeshu . These are commercial beverages you can find in most stores, straight from the hands of Japan’s most honed and infamous brewers. You can totally eat the ume plums from the wine! Serve them with your plum wine so you can nibble them while you drink, but if you’re looking into other ways to utilize those used plums, here are some ideas on how to consume them. If you visit the Hachiko exit, named after the famed, loyal dog Hachiko who waited for a decade for his dead master to return, you will find the Shugar market. This is a store that carries a lot of different varieties of local liquors that can be found in Japan. So, there is a very high chance you can get some shochu here.

The 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 Umeshu can be served at different temperatures; chilled or with ice, room temperature, or even hot in the winter. I'm talking of course about Akashi-Tai Shiraume Ginjo Umeshu. That's a pretty impenetrable title, but if we break it down, the tale of this wonderful elixir is revealed. As it's Japanese, we'll go right to left!One of six principles held closely by Sawanotsuru is “Sake is not something to make but to nurture.” Made of 100% Nanko Ume from Wakayama Prefecture (the finest plums in all of Japan) and brewed with Miyamizu (one of the three famous water sources of Japan), you can experience their nurturing style in this plum sake. The best way to drink Choya Ume Blanc is as a dessert wine with some ice, and completely chilled. 2. Takara Koshu Plum Hakkaisan’s plum sake is made with good quality Japanese plums prepared in Hakkaisan’s untreated sake. This low-calorie, dry, clear and crisp umeshu plum sake goes well with meals. Refrigerating it and drinking it straight without ice is recommended to enjoy the harmony of the natural acidity of plum and the gentle flavor of Hakkaisan sake. Alcohol Umeshu Soda ( umeshu so-da wari , 梅酒ソーダ割り) is pretty much what it sounds like - simple plum wine mixed with carbonated water. The great thing about this drink is that it works with any type of umeshu, even if it’s off-brand. In fact, the mixture can actually heighten and improve the taste of an otherwise unimpressive plum wine .

By drinking Umeshu regularly, you can boost up your nutrient requirements and stay healthy at the same time. The Myojo shop is located near Iidabashi station. This is not a wine shop, but a restaurant. However, don’t think that will limit your drinking experience. You can get 150 different types in this place, with other types of liquors too. You can get the signature shabu-shabu dish in this restaurant to pair up with your Umeshu. 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. Of course, you can just pour yourself a nice glass of umeshu (in whichever combination you like) at the end of a long day, to just enjoy the nice, sweet-sour flavor. But did you know that the occasional glass also carries some interesting benefits for your health? Source of Nutrients You might believe the flowering trees to be cherry blossoms but it is actually the plum blossom that graces the landscape beginning in mid-February, giving new hope and life after a long winter. Although they might look alike, the plum blossom is very different from the popular sakura in petal count, colors and fragrance. Also, the trees produces one of their most loved specialty foods—ume (梅)—the key ingredient of umeshu.

If you have trouble choosing between all the different brands, you can try the tasting set in the shop. They will give you 3 brands you have selected in tiny tasting glasses. It is priced at 1000 Yen which is a pretty great deal. You can get 3 kinds of Umeshu which will cost 1200 Yen. If you are not sure what Umeshu to try or select, you can speak to the wait staff and they will recommend something for you. Plus, you get really good food here.