Umeshu - Japanese plum wine
Make your own umeshu
Umeshu is a traditional Japanese alcoholic drink made from unripe green ume plums infused with alcohol and sugar. Right now, when the plums are still green on the trees, is the perfect time to create this refreshing delicacy.
Our recipe is inspired by authentic Japanese methods and at the same time gives you the opportunity to experiment with the plums from your own garden - as long as they are unripe and green. In fact, apricots and mirabelles are more closely related to the traditional Japanese ume plums than regular plums and are therefore obvious to use in your plum wine.
Umeshu is both sweet and sour and can be reminiscent of cherry wine or port wine. It is a delight for the taste buds and the best thing is that the process is relatively simple and uncomplicated. Follow our simple recipe and experience the refreshing, sweet and slightly sour taste of our homemade umeshu!
Ingredients
- 500 g unripe green plums (e.g. ume plums, apricots, mirabelles or opal plums)
- 300 g. white candy (rock sugar)
- 750 ml clear shochu (alcohol) or flavorless vodka
Course of action
- Rinse the plums thoroughly and remove any stems. Let them dry completely.
- Take a clean glass container with a tight-fitting lid (preferably a glass jar or a jam jar).
- Place half of the plums in the container and sprinkle half of the sugar over the plums.
- Repeat the process with the remaining half of the yolks and the sugar.
- Pour shochu or vodka over the plums and make sure they are completely covered in alcohol.
- Close the container tightly with the lid and store it in a cool, dark place for at least 6 months - preferably 12 months. Feel free to taste it along the way.
- Shake the container lightly every week to ensure that the sugar dissolves properly.
- When the umeshu has matured to your liking, you can either pour the liquid into a glass or leave it in the glass together with the plums for up to 2 more years.
- Serve umeshu in small glasses with ice or dilute it with sparkling water or soda to taste.
Tip: Can also be used in drinks - for example for ume highball .
