In 1924, Sumitaro Kondo founded Choya Umeshu Co., a company located in Habikino, Osaka, Japan, which would go on to specialize in the production and sales of umeshu plum liqueur.
Umeshu is a traditional Japanese liqueur made from ume fruit. This balance between ume extract and alcohol is achieved by ageing the whole fruit, with the stone still inside. The delicious tang of Umeshu comes from the citric acid in the fruit. Umeshu also contains malic and succinic acids. It is this process which gives Choya Umeshu its unique fruity bouquet, with notes of almond and marzipan.