Who doesn't love a good sundowner? More so, if it is of the traditional Japanese variety! Umeshu, a sweet-sour flavored aperitif made from the finest raw 'ume' plums from Japan, is now available in India in three uniquely delicious flavors — Nakano Umeshu, Kishu's Yuzu plum wine and Kishu Umeshu Beninanko.

Umeshu, a fruit liqueur comprising 35% white liquor and around 20% alcohol, is among Japan's most well-known and loved beverages and is slowly building a loyal community of fans worldwide. Not only is Umeshu the perfect drink to round off your evening meals and leisurely afternoons, it also has a host of health benefits, being rich in citric acid and antioxidants.

EIJ Consulting will market Umeshu in India in partnership with importer Sonarys Brands, spreading the Umeshu culture and familiarising consumers in the country about the refreshingly rich and fruity flavor of the plum wine and its several health benefits. For the first stage, 2000 bottles are imported, with the long-term goal of establishing Umeshu as one of India's premium mainstream alcoholic beverages. Umeshu will first be available in select restaurants in Maharashtra before it expands its presence to Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka in the coming year.

"Consumers across the world are increasingly being drawn to natural, traditionally-made, authentic products, which is why Umeshu, a simple traditional plum drink made in Japanese households, has become so popular globally. We are excited to introduce our Indian wine connoisseurs to its very distinctly light and fruity flavor. Since not many people are aware about Umeshu in India, we will first proceed with acquainting them with its taste. This will also stimulate cultural exchange between the two wonderful countries. We launch in Maharashtra, starting with Mumbai's popular fine-dining restaurants and then to take Umeshu to Pune and Gurgaon by August 2022" said Yosuke Shibata, chief executive officer, EIJ Consulting.

This initiative will also focus on creating and managing 'Umeshu Lovers', a community dedicated to savoring one of Japan's most widely known alcoholic beverages. It will operate via an online portal and familiarise people with making, drinking, enjoying, and learning about Umeshu.

Umeshu's three flavors available in India are:

Nakano Umeshu - This wine is made using 100% local Nanko-ume fruits grown in Wakayama, a region known for its high-quality ume. The rich, fruity and fragrant plum wine is loved in Japan and worldwide for its sweet-sour flavor.

Kishu's Yuzu plum wine - This is made using yuzu juice, a citrus fruit cross between a mandarin and lime. It's popular among wine connoisseurs for distinct Japanese fruity flavor.

Kishu Umeshu Beninanko - This delectable plum wine with a peach-like fragrance is made from the rare and precious 'Beni Nanko' plums that grow only in the sun. This particular blend uses 1.5 times the number of red Nanko plums compared to other regular plum wines. Beninanko has also won the first Grand Prix at Japan's largest Umeshu competition.

EIJ Consulting is a company formed to support Japanese companies to enter the Indian market with professional members who have rich experience in Indian business and lead the project to success. Based out of Bangalore, India, EIJ Consulting has established EIJ Career, a recruitment business for Indian engineers for Japanese companies, and EIJ Travel, a travel service for Indians visiting Japan.