Can I eat the umeboshi?

Yes! It's not just a garnish like an orange peel. If you muddle the umeboshi, you'll be drinking it. But if you leave it whole, it's definitely meant to be eaten (like the olives in a dirty martini ). Just keep in mind that there's a sizable pit that is inedible.

Are all Japanese cocktails this aggressively flavored?

Not all of them. Umeboshi is certainly an acquired taste. Sour, salty fermented plums aren't everyone's cup of tea - and that includes some Japanese people! In truth, many Japanese cocktails are very similar to Western cocktails. A whisky highball is just whisky and soda water. And there are other chuhai (Japanese shochu highballs) with broader appeal - like the famous lemon sour .

Is an ume sour the same as umeshu?

An umeboshi sour is a mixed cocktail made with sour pickled plums and shochu. Umeshu is a Japanese plum liqueur made by steeping green unripe plums in shochu for months (or years) to infuse with plum flavor.

Umeboshi Sour (Pickled Plum Cocktail)

Name: Umeboshi Sour (Pickled Plum Cocktail)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: Ice cubes; ¼ cup shōchū such as Iichiko; ¾ cup sparkling water; 1 ½ tablespoon umezu (plum vinegar); ½ teaspoon plain rice vinegar; ½ teaspoon honey (optional); 1 large and soft umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum); 1 shiso leaf, whole or shredded, for garnish (optional)

Description

A true Japanese cocktail that delivers fizzy, punchy sweet and sour flavors. I make my umeboshi sour at home in less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Ice cubes
1/4 cup shōchū such as Iichiko
3/4 cup sparkling water
1 1/2 tablespoon umezu (plum vinegar)
1/2 teaspoon plain rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon honey (optional)
1 large and soft umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum)
1 shiso leaf, whole or shredded, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Add ice cubes: Fill a tall glass, halfway, with ice cubes.
Add the alcohol and bubbles: Add the shochu and sparkling water.
Mix the flavoring: Mix the rice vinegar, umezu and honey together in a small bowl and add it to the drink.
Top and garnish: Finish by topping with umeboshi, garnish with a shiso leaf, and serve with a stir stick.

Notes

How to enjoy the drink: Mash the pickled plum as much as you can to get the maximum amount of flavor.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 drink
Calories: 108
Sugar: 2.9g
Sodium: 727mg
Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 5.9g
Fiber: 0g
Protein: 0.3g
Cholesterol: 0mg