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3 Delicious Facts About Umeshu (Japanese Plum Wine)Japanese plum wine—called "umeshu" in Japanese— is a highly popular alcoholic beverage in Japan. Umeshu is usually quite sweet, which makes it easy to drink even for those who don't normally like alcohol, and umeshu is even known to be beneficial to health! Read on for 3 facts that will enlighten you on the topic of Japanese plum wine and make you want to give it try for yourself!
1. Although Translated as "Plum Wine," Umeshu is Not Actually Wine
In Japanese "umeshu" means, literally, "ume alcohol." "Ume" are a type of sour Japanese plum that are not pleasant to eat as-is, but are quite delicious when pickled with salt to make the staple Japanese pickle called "umeboshi" or when mixed with liquor to make umeshu. As stated in the heading, umeshu is not fermented and is therefore not actually wine. Instead, it is a dizzyingly sweet mixture of liquor, sugar, and ume that comes closer to what most people would think of as a liqueur. Umeshu is usually aged for between 6 months to a year before being enjoyed.
2. Umeshu Doesn't Have an Expiration Date.
As long as it was prepared carefully, no bacteria were able to enter the jar, and it was stored away from sunlight, umeshu can last for many years! Actually, it is said only to improve over time, just like a fine whiskey or wine. There are even stories of parents who make a batch of umeshu when their child is born and drink it together for the first time when the child reaches the legal drinking age at 20.
3. Umeshu is Good for Your Health!
As ume are rich in citric acid and other antioxidants, they are said to help people recover from fatigue and prevent damage to the body from oxidation. The plums in umeshu are also thought to help with various gastrointestinal issues including constipation and diarrhea. Additionally, umeshu is filled with vitamins and minerals that supposedly help improve skin, hair, and nail quality, leading some women to choose it as a drink for beautification. However, as it is an alcoholic beverage, the negative side effects of overconsumption far outweigh these benefits, so it is best to enjoy it in moderation as with any other alcohol.
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