“People say you’re undervalued when away from home”—but when it comes to true quality, the sky’s the limit anywhere! That perfectly describes Tete Japan Botanicals. A few years ago, Amabuki Shuzo in Saga Prefecture crafted a remarkably innovative umeshu, but, fearing it might not be accepted by traditional Japanese drinkers, decided to market it exclusively to the more open-minded European market.

Unexpectedly, the product became a huge hit in Europe, prompting Amabuki Shuzo to consider bringing it back to Japan. As an experiment, they entered it into both the “National Umeshu Competition” and the “Umeshu Grand Prix”—and to their surprise, it took first place in both. Following popular demand, Amabuki Shuzo finally decided to reintroduce it, albeit in limited quantities, to the Japanese market!

Aimed initially at Europe, the packaging is nothing like traditional umeshu, exuding an unmistakably international vibe. As for what’s inside, the umeshu uses a shochu base, blended with ume, mikan peel, cinnamon, wax tree blossom, shell ginger leaf, ginger, Japanese pepper, green tea, and dried bonito—a total of nine Japanese botanicals. This creative combination gives the drink a unique herbal and floral fragrance rarely found in umeshu. Time to give it a try!

On the nose, you’ll notice mikan peel’s zesty aroma—refreshing and slightly tart. The palate opens with mikan sweetness, followed by pronounced citrus and plum acidity, layered with the herbal notes of cinnamon, flowers, and a gentle background of ginger. It’s exceptionally refreshing.

Officially recommended: mix it with soda water at a 1:2 ratio. Watch the bubbles rise as you pour—it’s ice-cold and lightly orchid-scented, soft and soothing. On a sweltering day, it’s the perfect way to beat the heat!