Cheers to the fruit in the bottle! Choya Extra Years – Traditional Japanese Umeshu drink

Who would have known a box as ugly as this would have a pleasant surprise once open?

Choya Extra Years in a green bottle and ugly box

I for one never did. This was some box I saw among the boxes of liqueur inside the cabinet at my brother pad when I was in Singapore a year ago. I was like. Erm…What the heeeck is that?? That’s so like “pangit“! (means ugly in Tagalog). Did you bought this in some cheap convenient store?

Of course, me being me. I remembered opening it up and whoa! Look! Look! Look! There’s something in it!

Look! Look! There’s something inside!

You know I’ve seen imported red vinegar bottles with a stick of full of garlic inside as well as local ones with red pepper and also some Sake with gold flakes in it but hello and yes it’s my first time to actually hold a fruit one and practically let alone, dug out the fruit from the bottle like some kid.

And seriously, I thought my mom was kidding me when she said “Oi! That is a kiamoy ah.” Huh? Who the heck would have thought that this fruit is the sour and super salty plum called “kiamoy”? Because I seriously don’t at first.

The umeshu I dug off the bottle and bite off. It has a fleshy meat the is surprisingly firm and not soggy. There is quite a strong plum alcoholic taste in there.

I was like “Are you serious?? This is like so big to call it a kiamoy. Hello ma! It’s not wrinkly and small and it’s not pula (red). Maybe you have mistaken this one for something else.”

“No-no-no-no! Anu ka ba? Hay nako [insert my name here!], of course it’s not wrinkly and old because it isn’t dried yet. Di pa siya pinatanda.” LOL!

Before drinking, you need to remove the thin aluminum cover on the bottle mouth. It’s not your typical twist cap liqueur bottles you see with most well-known brands.

Sorry! I already opened it waaay before taking a picture but you get the picture of what I mean right?

Once open, I can really smell the tangy sweetness aroma of this Umeshu. Despite having a 15% alcohol, it does not have this cloying smell of alcohol which is… strange. Maybe I’m used to alcoholic drinks.

Dug an Umeshu out of the bottle and pouring the aromatic sweet tangy drink into the glass

The taste is mildly sweet yet tangy with a little dash of sour “plum-my” fruity taste and is definitely way better than the super salty wrinkly kiamoy I’ve eaten!

The golden honey liqueur color of Choya Extra Years

I like this straight in room temperature especially after a hot shower but I do know some who wants it with a chunk of ice as it becomes a cool refreshing drink.

A recyclable pour type bottle that looks like a human expression.

Bottle wise, it’s really simple once the label are removed. Nothing special, like an off the rack bottles you can buy at some home retail store but for the discerning, this is one cool bottle that can be recycled.

Now. You might be thinking, is this available in the Philippines? Yeah it’s sure is as I’ve recently discovered just late this year.

A line up of Choya varieties @ Robinson’s Magnolia supermarket

But seriously it’s 300-600+ peso more expensive depending which variety you’ve bought at Robinson’s Magnolia than in Thailand, Singapore and or in Japan. Could it be because of local import duties and liqueur tax? I have no idea.

Anyway, for this Christmas, it’s a great novelty gift but I don’t think this is for most young people especially the yuppies as this is a relaxing drink where you drink it either alone or with friends doing a night chit-chat.

Easily enough, the bottle cap details say so 😉

This is might not be your typical wild party stuff but would be a great change of drink if you wish to pass the hard stuff.

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Is this worth it?
Yes! It’s actually my 3rd bottle.

Will I buy again?
Only when someone will come back from Thailand, Singapore or Japan.

Product Details:
Brand: Choya – Extra Years
Product: Traditional Japanese Umeshu liqueur
Price: 740 Baht approx PHP 1021 only (Mine was bought at Thailand. It’s cheaper there as conversion is just 1.38 at the time when we bought it)
Where: Locally available in Robinson’s Magnolia supermarket or at Thailand, Singapore and Japan Duty Free airport