Yamato Japanese Cherry Blossom Plum Wine (Sakura Umeshu) 500ml
Japanese plum wine with cherry blossom in the bottle. A spring pour for the bar and the dessert list.
古都の春 (Koto no Haru, spring in the old capital) is a sakura umeshu from Yamato, bottled under the Meets label. The front label describes it as a sakura umeshu made of Japanese plum and cherry, and the bottle carries cherry blossom petals in the liquid, which gives it its coral-pink colour on the back bar. 500ml square glass bottle.
More umeshu: Chokyu 15 Year-Aged Umeshu (720ml), Red Shiso Umeshu (720ml) and Nakata Shiro Classic Umeshu (720ml).
Why Chefs Choose This
- Seasonal story: a natural centrepiece for spring menus and hanami events.
- Looks the part: blossom petals in a clear square bottle make it a visible back-bar serve.
- Japanese fruit: the label states it is made with Japanese plum and cherry.
- Flexible serve: works neat, on ice, lengthened or in a cocktail.
How to Use
- Chilled or on ice: pour over a large cube to let the blossom aroma open.
- Sakura spritz: one part umeshu to two parts soda, garnished with a shiso leaf.
- Cocktails: use in place of a fruit liqueur in a spritz or sour.
- Dessert: pour alongside mochi, a vanilla ice cream or a light almond cake.
Umeshu (梅酒) is made by steeping ume, the sour Japanese plum, in alcohol with sugar until the fruit gives up its tart, almond-scented flavour. It is one of Japan's best-loved home-made drinks, and every household recipe differs. Sakura umeshu adds cherry blossom (桜, sakura), the flower of the Japanese spring and the centre of hanami, the custom of picnicking under the blossom. The name on this bottle, 古都の春, reads as spring in the old capital, a nod to that season.
What does sakura umeshu taste like?
Sweet-tart plum first, then a soft floral note from the cherry blossom. The ume gives a ripe stone fruit flavour with a gentle sourness and a faint almond edge; the sakura adds a light, perfumed lift that sets it apart from a standard umeshu. Served cold it tastes fresher and more floral; at room temperature the plum and sweetness come forward. Lengthened with soda, it becomes a light, pink spritz that suits a spring menu.
| Type | Sakura umeshu 桜梅酒 (cherry blossom plum wine) |
| Brand | Yamato (Meets label) |
| Product Name | 古都の春 Koto no Haru |
| Origin | Japan |
| Net Volume / Format | 500ml square glass bottle |
| Best Served | Chilled, on ice, as a spritz or in cocktails |
What is the difference between umeshu and sakura umeshu?
Standard umeshu is ume plums steeped in alcohol with sugar. Sakura umeshu adds cherry blossom, which brings a floral aroma and, in this bottle, visible petals and a pink colour. The plum still leads the flavour; the blossom adds a perfumed, seasonal note that makes it a natural choice for spring menus.
How should I serve sakura umeshu?
Chilled or over a large ice cube is the classic serve. For a longer drink, mix one part umeshu with two parts soda water and garnish with shiso or a twist of citrus. It also works with dessert: pour a small glass alongside mochi, a fruit tart or vanilla ice cream. Check the alcohol strength on the bottle label when building cocktails.
How should I store it once opened?
Keep the bottle upright in a cool, dark place before opening. Once opened, close the cap tightly and keep it in the fridge, following any guidance on the label, and enjoy it within a few weeks for the freshest floral note. The blossom petals are part of the drink; it is normal for the colour to soften slightly over time.
SKU : S0256