If you are a big wine drinker, then you probably will have heard of plum wine. Plum wine is a delicious drink that is made using plums that are generally fermented in sugar and yeast.
It is a drink that traditionally comes from Japan, and is typically made using Japanese Ume plums.
If you haven’t tried plum wine before, but you’re interested in doing so, you might not know where to start.
Plum wine is totally different from any other type of wine that you might encounter, so it can be difficult to know how to get your hands on some if you want to taste it.
In this simple guide, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about plum wine.
We’ve included information on what plum wine is, what the health benefits are of this wine, and even information on the different types of plum wine that exist.
So if you want to try plum wine for the first time, you’re in the right place. Keep on reading to find out more!
First things first, let’s take a look at what plum wine is. As the name suggests, plum wine is a wine that is made using plums. It originates in Japan and was originally produced using Japanese ume plums.
Japanese ume plums would be fermented using sugar and yeast to create a delicious bottle of wine.
Plum wine is a very traditional wine in Japan, and originally it was produced as a medication rather than a drink to be enjoyed.
Japanese liqueurs have always been referred to as Umeshu in Asian culture, and traditionally plum wine was used to treat sore throats, soothe aching muscles, and relieve colds. Over time, however, the purpose of plum wine has changed.
Originally, there was a lot of heavy regulation surrounding the production of plum wine. Plum wine could only be purchased from certain places and it was forbidden to brew your own.
But eventually, the rules were relaxed, allowing people to produce and enjoy their very own plum wine.
Since the rules were relaxed surrounding the production of plum wine, a lot of people started to enjoy these types of wine.
That was when the purpose of plum wine switched from being a medicinal drink to a drink that is consumed for enjoyment. Once you taste plum wine, you’ll totally understand why this happened because plum wine tastes amazing,
Unlike a lot of other types of wine, plum wine is super sweet and aromatic. It is fairly low in alcohol with an ABV usually around 12%, and this can make it a lot easier to drink than some of the stronger types of wine.
As plums are used to produce this wine rather than grapes, this wine is a lot more balanced than any other type of wine out there, that is what makes it so great.
The delicious flavor of plum wine combined with the unique way in which it is produced make this wine a premium wine.
A lot of people choose to serve plum wine as a treat, rather than something that is drunk regularly, because of its special flavor. But some people also consume it for the health benefits associated with plum wine.
So, let’s take a look at what some of those health benefits are.
What Are the Health Benefits of Plum Wine?
As we said earlier, plum wine was originally created for medicinal purposes.
The different conditions that could be treated using plum wine were vast and varied, ranging from sore throats to sore muscles, and a lot of things in between.
So, as you would expect, there are some health benefits associated with drinking plum wine.
Of course, there is a fine line between getting health benefits from drinking plum wine and damaging your health by drinking too much alcohol. That is why you only need to consume a very small amount of plum wine to feel the health benefits of this.
The main health benefits of plum wine come from the fact that plum wine is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Like all fruits, plums are filled with goodness, and this goodness actually survives the fermentation process.
So, when you consume a small amount of plum wine, you will be accessing minerals and antioxidants.
Out of these two things, it is the antioxidants that have the biggest impact on your health. Antioxidants are brilliant for you, and natural antioxidants that come from fruit are even better.
So, being able to access these when you drink plum wine is brilliant.
As we have said, there are also a number of vitamins and minerals found in plum wine. These vitamins and minerals include magnesium, manganese, calcium, zinc, iron, and potassium.
All these minerals have their own individual benefits, so you will get a lot of nutrients from this wine.
The final icing on the cake for plum wine? Plum wine has been found to have a lot less histamines than other types of red wine.
Histamines are the component in alcohol that induce headaches and produce hangovers. So, if you want to avoid a hangover the day after drinking, then plum wine is a good choice for you.
The Different Types of Plum Wine
Now that we have taken a look at some of the main health benefits associated with consuming plum wine, let’s take a look at what the different types of plum wine are.
This traditional Japanese drink comes in a wide variety of different styles, all of which taste special and unique in their own way.
So, if you are thinking of trying plum wine for the first time, you might be unsure about which type of plum wine to try. Luckily, there are quite a few options to choose from, below we’ve outlined some of the main types of plum wine.
Choya Umeshu
The first type of plum wine that is worth checking out is Choya Umeshu. Choya Umeshu is the sweetest of the different types of plum wine. In fact, it is actually one of the sweetest types of plum wine out there.
This type of plum wine is coveted among lovers of plum wine as it has a delicious sweet flavor and a very faint aroma. It is the perfect balance of flavor, alcohol, scent, and lots more. So, if you only try one type of plum wine, this is the one to try out!
Choya Ume Blanc
Another brilliant type of plum wine that you should check out is Choya Ume Blanc. This is a delightful plum wine that is very gentle in taste. It somehow balances being full of flavor while also not being overpowering.
This wine is produced using semi-ripened plums, and that is what creates the difference in its flavor. Served chilled, this is a delicious plum wine to enjoy alongside dessert.
Choya Kokuto Umeshu
If you instead want a really strong glass of plum wine, then Choya kokuto umeshu is a brilliant wine to check out. Unlike the other styles of plum wine that we have looked at so far, this one isn’t at all gentle in flavor.
Instead, it is incredibly rich and strong.
Choya kokuto umeshu is an utterly delicious type of plum wine. Just like the last style that we looked at, this is also served as a dessert wine but it has a super pungent aroma.
It is almost sickly sweet, and definitely not made for those who like weak wines. But if you like a strong wine that is super delicious, this is perfect for you.
Takara Kinsen Plum
Finally, we couldn’t create this guide without mentioning Takara kinsen plum. As you can see, this wine has an entirely different name, and it also has a flavor that is totally different too.
Takara kinsen plum is a fruity-flavored wine with super strong plum flavors. If you want the ultimate Japanese plum wine, and they are the epitome of what makes Japanese plum wine great.
This wine averages around 12% ABV and tastes delicious served on the rocks. If you want to try a nice glass of plum wine for the first time, this is the wine to try.
Interesting Facts About Plum Wine
Before we wrap this up, let’s take a look at some interesting facts about plum wine. As we have seen throughout this guide, plum wine is really interesting compared to other types of wine because of its history.
However, it isn’t just its history that makes it interesting. There are lots of other interesting things about plum wine, we’ve included some of the most interesting facts about this wine below.
Umeshu Plum Wine Doesn’t Expire
Like a number of alcoholic beverages, Umeshu has a pretty high alcoholic percentage. This high alcohol content contributes to one of the most interesting things about plum wine, and that is that it doesn’t expire.
The high alcohol content in plum wine means that this alcohol will never go off. So, you will have an unlimited amount of time to drink your plum wine once you purchase it.
Anybody Can Make Umeshu Plum Wine
Another really interesting thing about umeshu plum wine is that anybody can make it. This plum wine doesn’t require any fancy equipment to produce it, instead, you can simply make it yourself.
As long as you can get your hands on ume plums, you will be able to produce your own plum wine. So, you won’t have to go to a restaurant to get your hands on a glass of this wine, you can simply make it for yourself.
You Cannot Eat Ume Plums
Finally, you will be interested to hear that you cannot eat ume plums raw. This can be a very confusing thing as plum wine is made using ume plums.
Most fruits can be consumed raw, but ume plums are an objection to this rule. So, if you want to eat ume plums, they will need to be dried first.
Summary
In short, plum wine is a type of wine that originates in Japan. Traditionally, this wine was used for medicinal purposes, but eventually, it became an alcoholic beverage that is consumed for enjoyment.
Plum wine is super unique with a flavor that is totally different from any other type of wine that exists.
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