Choya Golden Ume is a traditional Japanese umeshu a plum liqueur made by steeping ripened Nanko-ume fruit in alcohol and sugar for at least 12 months, producing a richly aromatic, sweet-and-tangy liqueur with whole ume fruit visible in the bottle.

Umeshu has been part of Japanese daily life for centuries, traditionally enjoyed as a reviving tonic made by steeping ume in spirit. Choya has specialized in umeshu for over half a century, working with expert ume growers in Japan to source the prized Nanko-ume variety. The long maceration draws out the fruit’s signature balance of sweetness and bright acidity, with the golden bottle showing whole fruit suspended inside a hallmark of quality umeshu.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Ripe plum with floral and honeyed notes.
Palate: Sweet and tangy juicy ume fruit with bright acidity and a smooth, syrupy body.
Finish: Clean, fruity, and lightly tart.

Specs

Producer: Choya, Japan
Style: Umeshu (Japanese plum liqueur)
Fruit: Nanko-ume
Maceration: Minimum 12 months

Browse more liqueurs at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is umeshu?

Umeshu is a traditional Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume fruit (a Japanese plum-apricot) in spirit and sugar. The result is sweet, tangy, and aromatic enjoyed in Japan for centuries, often as a reviving tonic.

How do you drink Choya Golden Ume?

Enjoy it chilled and neat, on the rocks, or with soda or tonic for a lighter highball. It also works beautifully over ice with a splash of sparkling water, or as a sweet-tart cocktail ingredient. Many people eat the preserved ume fruit from the bottle as well.

What is Nanko-ume?

Nanko-ume is one of the most prized varieties of Japanese ume, known for its thick flesh and fine balance of sweetness and acidity which is why Choya uses it for this liqueur.

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is umeshu?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Umeshu is a traditional Japanese liqueur made by steeping ume fruit (a Japanese plum-apricot) in spirit and sugar. The result is sweet, tangy, and aromatic enjoyed in Japan for centuries, often as a reviving tonic.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How do you drink Choya Golden Ume?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Chilled and neat, on the rocks, or with soda or tonic for a lighter highball. It also works over ice with sparkling water or as a sweet-tart cocktail ingredient. Many people eat the preserved ume fruit from the bottle too.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is Nanko-ume?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Nanko-ume is one of the most prized varieties of Japanese ume, known for thick flesh and a fine balance of sweetness and acidity which is why Choya uses it for this liqueur.”}}]}