After trying many green tea umeshu, I had almost given up—most taste either too artificial or simply fail to blend the flavors, ending up as “green tea is green tea, umeshu is umeshu.” But just when I was about to lose hope, fate brought me “the one”—this must be destiny!

This product is produced by Itohkyuemon, the legendary Uji matcha house founded in 1832 and now synonymous with top-quality matcha among tea lovers. For this bottle, they collaborated with Joyo Sake Brewery (also based in Kyoto) to create an all-Kyoto masterpiece.

The plums come from Kyoto’s largest plum orchard, Aotani Bairin, using “Joshu White” plums. The umeshu is aged for three years, then blended with premium matcha powder, stone-milled for maximum aroma. As a result, a thick layer of matcha settles at the bottom of the bottle—make sure to shake well before pouring, or you’ll miss out on all the goodness!

On the nose, there’s a rich matcha fragrance with a hint of plum tartness behind it. On the palate, the mellow bitterness of matcha and the sweet-sour plum flavor are perfectly fused, leaving a powdery matcha finish and lingering aftertaste. It’s amazing how well these two flavors harmonize—truly delicious!

Official serving suggestions include on the rocks, with soda, or even as a “hot toddy”—mixed 1:1 with hot water. While the full portion of hot water may be too much, I found that adding just a little really brings out the matcha’s refined aroma and Zen-like vibe—definitely worth a try!

Recently, a tea shop master visited my store. She was skeptical, having tried too many disappointing green tea umeshu, but after tasting this one, she was genuinely impressed. Her praise has given me even more confidence in recommending this bottle to all matcha lovers.