🥃 Choya Umeshu
Japanese umeshu brand: ume fruit, sugar and spirit; the company began in 1914 with grape growing and turned to ume in 1959; The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit is 15% ABV.
Choya Umeshu is a Japanese umeshu brand, a sweet liqueur made from ume fruit with sugar and spirit. According to the company's history, CHOYA began in 1914 on a farm that grew grapes and made wine and brandy; in 1959 the founder, Sumitaro Kondo, encountered ume, which became the basis of the company's umeshu.
History. In 1962 the family incorporated the business as CHOYA Yoshu Jozo (Brewery) Co., Ltd. Umeshu exports began in 1968, and CHOYA UMESHU GmbH was established in Germany in 1990. In 2015 the company created the category “Honkaku Umeshu” (Authentic Umeshu) to help customers identify selection criteria, and in 2016 it launched the series “The CHOYA”.
The range. For example, The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit is aged for at least three years; according to the producer, its ingredients are Japanese ume fruit, sugar, cane spirit and ume purée (Kishu Nanko ume), and it is 15% ABV.
Why this matters to you. The strength differs between versions, so check the label. Under EU rules (Regulation 2019/787) a liqueur must be at least 15% ABV. The WHO reminds us that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for health.
Facts
| Year founded | 1914 (farm, grapes, wine and brandy); ume from 1959 (Sumitaro Kondo); CHOYA Yoshu Jozo 1962 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | in the EU a liqueur is at least 15% ABV (Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| Raw material | ume fruit, sugar, spirit (cane spirit and ume purée in The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit) |
| Minimum maturation | The CHOYA Aged 3 Years — at least 3 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 15% ABV (The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit); other versions per label |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Choya Umeshu → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Sugar cane and molasses
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Japanese
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 East Asia
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Midori
Frequently asked questions
When did CHOYA start?
According to the company's history, in 1914, on a farm growing grapes and making wine and brandy; the turn to ume came in 1959.
What does Honkaku Umeshu mean?
A category CHOYA established in 2015 to help customers identify selection criteria for umeshu.
What is in The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit?
According to the producer: Japanese ume fruit, sugar, cane spirit and ume purée, aged for at least 3 years.
What is the strength of Choya Umeshu?
It depends on the version: The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit is 15% ABV; check the label of others.
When did CHOYA start exporting umeshu?
In 1968, according to the company; CHOYA UMESHU GmbH was established in Germany in 1990.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 East Asia — A region in the east of Asia — China, Japan and Korea: milk became an everyday food only in the 20th century, but there are old traditions such as rushan and so; China ranks third in the world for vineyard area.
- 🥃 Midori — Bright green melon liqueur from Japan's Suntory, 20% ABV; made in Japan since 1964 and sold as Midori since 1978 (US launch).
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Midori · 🥃 Frangelico · 🥃 Chambord · 🥃 Passoã · 🥃 Salmiakki Koskenkorva · 🥃 Hpnotiq
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- CHOYA: History (1914 farm, grapes, wine and brandy; ume 1959; CHOYA Yoshu Jozo 1962; exports 1968; Germany 1990; Honkaku Umeshu 2015; The CHOYA 2016)
- CHOYA: The CHOYA Aged 3 Years Extra Fruit (15 %; ume fruit, sugar, cane spirit, ume puree; Kishu Nanko ume; at least 3 years)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I, category 33 liqueur (minimum 15 % ABV), legislation.gov.uk copy
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)