Umeshu

Umeshu

What it is

Home brewing is illegal in Japan, but steeping fruit in a spirit of at least twenty percent is expressly allowed - which is why nearly every household made umeshu and almost none made beer. The almond note is the stone's doing: amygdalin in the kernels yields benzaldehyde as the fruit sits in the jar.

In the kitchen

Green ume are not eaten raw, and the steeping needs three months at the very least - a year is better, and the jar only improves. To deglaze pork or duck, a splash off the heat reduced by half needs no added sugar at all.

Goes with

Pork Duck Shiso Ginger Soy sauce Apricot Honey Plum

Same species

Bergeron apricot Almond Almond flour Almond oil Amardine Amarena cherry in syrup

Something wrong here, or missing? Tell us

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.