Kanpai!

Japanese brand Choya is synonymous with umeshu, a refreshing liqueur well loved for its delicious flavour and unique fruity bouquet. 

When the Japanese came across a fruit called ume some 1,500 years ago, they were impressed with its deliciously tangy flavour, thanks to the high concentration of citric acid in the fruit, and its pretty blossoms. 

Of course, it didn’t take long for them to discover the ume’s medicinal properties. Its flesh and skin contain a powerful antioxidant called polyphenol – thought to protect the body from disease. Also rich with minerals, including calcium, it is said to effectively relieve constipation, reduce diarrhoea and stimulate the appetite as well. 

HEALTHY & NATURAL 

So they experimented with various ways to savour this apricot-like fruit. One involved steeping whole ume fruit in Japanese shochu spirit and sugar to extract the flavour from not only the flesh and skin, but the stone as well. 

The result was umeshu, a liqueur Japanese families have enjoyed for centuries as a reviving tonic. A glassful is thought to be an excellent remedy for fatigue.  

While there are a number of umeshu liqueur brands in Japan, Choya is the most popular. Established over 50 years ago, it continues to be passionate about ume and works closely with Japanese farmers to grow better fruit for its range of umeshu products. 

AUTHENTIC, DELICIOUS & AROMATIC 

What sets Choya apart from other  umeshu brands is the quality of its fruit. Out of the several hundred varieties in the country today, it uses only a few premium types of Japanese ume. They include Nanko-ume from Wakayama Prefecture. Its plump, juicy flesh and high acidity make it particularly suitable for umeshu production. 

Unlike other brands, Choya also uses  the traditional method of preparing ume liqueur to preserve the flavour and integrity of the fruit. Its umeshu is aged for approximately one year. 

This careful maturation ensures that the flavour is thoroughly extracted from the fruit and stone. The slow ageing process also results in authentic, delicious and aromatic umeshu every time. Best of all, it is free of artificial additives, such as acidulants, flavourings and colourings. 

SWEET, VERSATILE TREAT

Choya’s Honey Umeshu is a wonderful way to discover the joy of umeshu. Made with honey, ume fruit and cane spirit, it strikes a beautiful balance between sweet and tart, and has notes of almond from the ume pit. The product does not contain added sugar, only 100 per cent natural honey. 

Honey Umeshu can be enjoyed on the rocks with soda and a lime wedge, with champagne, vodka or hot green tea, and with lemon juice and sparkling water. It is also delicious as a jelly and a marinade for meat.