• Home
  • Gold of the Rising Sun
  • Author Blog
    • About C.J. RYALL
  • Japan Close-Up
  • Poetry

Umeshu - Japanese Plum Wine

29/4/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture

Japan has many local varieties of alcohol.  Everyone knows the traditional ‘sake’ of course, otherwise known as Nihon-shu, which can further be categorised as either reishu (cold sake on the rocks) or atsukan (hot sake in a ceramic cup).  Then there is the ever popular shou-chu.  Shou-chu is made from grains and vegetables creating a hard, clear liquor. The most common ingredients of shou-chu are sweet potatoes, barley, rice, buckwheat and sugar cane.  



Awamori is an Okinawan variety of shou-chu made from Thai rice (Thailand) rather than Japanese rice, giving it a smoother blend.  Then there is Umeshu.  Umeshu is made from apricot plums, white liquor and (white) rock sugar.  It creates a white liqueur which has both a sweet and sour taste and an alcohol content of between 10 to 15 percent.  Its sweet taste and aroma makes it an appealing choice even for those who don’t usually enjoy drinking alcohol.  

My wife and I recently made Umeshu using plums, vodka and rock sugar.  First, Mandy chose green unripened plums and removed the stalks with a toothpick, so as not to damage the fruit. The plums were then gently washed and dried by hand. We placed the plums in an 8 litre jar, then poured in the crystal sugar on top of the plums, and then added the white liquor, in this case vodka.  

For an 8 litre jar, 2 kilograms of plums are required, along with 3.6 litres of white liquor (35% proof or more) and 1 kilogram of rock sugar.  Sugar helps draw the juice from the plums which is then mixed with the vodka. Over time, during the fermentation process, the sugar dissolves and also becomes part of the surrounding liquid.

The jar was sealed and placed in a cool, dark place.  We chose our apartment’s pantry for this purpose. Every few days, Mandy would pick up the jar and gently swirl it around for a few minutes so as to mix the contents evenly together.  This process continued for three months.  However, after several weeks, swirling the contents was only necessary once a week. Over several months the plums shrink and shrivel within the liquid in which they float. 


Read More
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Adventures In Japan
    Akame Falls
    Ancient Burial Mounds In Matsusaka
    Autumn In Japan
    A Wonderful Wedding In Kumano
    Building Bridges
    Christmas & New Year`s In Japan
    Climbing Fuji-san: Part I
    Climbing Fuji-San: Part II
    'Cool Biz'
    Culture Day In Japan
    Energy In Japan
    Fall
    Golden Week
    Halloween In Japan
    Hollywood's Spotlight On Japan
    Ise-Shima G7 Summit
    Japan-Inspired Poetry
    Japan In Sync With The Seasons
    Japan's Fixation With Cats
    Japan's Wedding Industry
    Kiyomizu-dera
    Land Of Ice And Snow
    Learning Another Language Inspires Creativity
    Living In The Land Of The Rising Sun
    March - A Time Of Upheaval
    Matsumoto Clinic
    Matsusaka
    Miyako Island
    Miyako-jima
    Mountain Day
    New Year's Traditions And Customs In Japan
    North Korea
    Not All You See Is Sushi!
    November's Japanese Holidays
    Okinawa
    Osaka
    Pink Snow
    Pokemon ... Gone!
    PPAP: PEN PINEAPPLE APPLE PEN
    Renting In Japan
    Rice Planting In Japan
    Risshun: First Day Of Spring
    SMAP!
    Summer Customs In Japan
    Takada High School
    The Rice Harvest
    Things I Do Differently In Japan (Part 1)
    Things I Do Differently In Japan (Part 2)
    Things I Do Differently In Japan (Part 3 - Conclusion)
    This Is Koushien
    Time Marches On
    Umeshu - Japanese Plum Wine
    When You Wish Upon A Star ... In Japan
    Winter 2017/2018
    Winter Illuminations In Japan 2014
    Yaeyama Islands

    ARCHIVE

    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Picture
    The Complete Travel Guide to Japan

    Japan Australia Blogspot
    Picture
      Japan-Australia 
     Blog Spot

     Sumo    
    Japan’s Traditional Sport

     
    Sumo is Japan’s traditional national sport and is one of the most popular spectator sports in the country. Sumo has its roots in ancient Shinto religious rites to ensure good harvests. It is believed to be at least 1500 years old. For me it is the traditional aspects and rituals of this ancient sport that really appeal. I will briefly explain about some of the more common traditions and rituals in this post.

    Image Source 

    See More by John Asano


    Picture
    John Asano is a web developer and freelance writer living in Gifu, Japan. Originally from Melbourne Australia, he writes for Japan Australia, a blog dedicated to Japan travel, culture, traditions and modern life in Japan as well as Japan Travel Advice, a website dedicated to travel in Japan.

© 2004 - 2017 CJ RYALL  All rights reserved.
✕