The CHOYA Ginza BAR in Hong Kong

As someone who wasn’t particularly fond of umeshu (plum wine), my visit to Hong Kong’s first "The CHOYA Ginza BAR" completely changed my perspective 🥹. I was deeply impressed by how delicious umeshu can be! The Hong Kong branch of "The CHOYA Ginza BAR" incorporates the style of its flagship store in Tokyo’s Ginza. In addition to a variety of CHOYA umeshu cocktails, the bar also offers dishes inspired by umeshu. Trying so many different types of umeshu for the first time was incredibly satisfying, and I genuinely can’t wait to go back 🤤.

🔸CHOYA Signature Cocktails🔸
🍹The CHOYA Kokuan
This cocktail has a hint of brown sugar flavor, but it’s not overpowering. It’s very smooth and easy to drink, with a touch of lime’s tangy aroma. Even as someone not used to drinking umeshu, I found it delightful.

🍹French Highball
This drink feels cooler and more refreshing, with a milder alcohol taste. The lemony tang adds a crisp and invigorating touch, making it perfect for a hot summer day.

🥃Black Echo
Made with CHOYA Black umeshu, this cocktail has a more pronounced sweetness and a richer fruitiness, offering a layered flavor profile.

🍸Choco Martini
This cocktail has a thicker texture, combining chocolate with umeshu. The umeshu flavor is slightly enhanced, balancing well with the richness of the chocolate. It’s a unique and special drink.

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🔹CHOYA Tasting Set🔹
From light and refreshing to rich and intense (arranged from outer to inner options):

🥃CHOYA UJI GREEN TEA
The initial taste is the fragrance of Japanese Uji green tea, followed by the gentle sweetness of umeshu. I never imagined these two could pair so well—it’s incredibly delicious and love at first sip 😍.

🥃The CHOYA SINGLE YEAR
Aged for one year, this umeshu is moderately sweet and tangy, making it easy to drink. Many of the bar’s other cocktails use this as their base.

🥃The CHOYA CRAFT FRUIT
Made with Nanko plum liqueur, this umeshu is blended with fruit puree during preparation. It has a slightly cloudy appearance, a richer and smoother texture, and a more pronounced mouthfeel.

🥃The CHOYA AGED 3 YEARS
Aged for three years, this umeshu has a higher perceived alcohol content and sweetness. It’s smooth and velvety on the palate.

🥃The CHOYA BLACK
This umeshu is rich and intense, blended with French brandy. The alcohol flavor is more pronounced, and it pairs well with the brandy, creating a unique and distinctive taste that I really enjoyed.

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🔻Food Pairing & Other Highlights🔻
🦪CHOYA Ice-Matured Umeshu Mussels with Fries
The bar selected an umeshu with a flavor profile similar to white wine for this dish. It pairs perfectly with the mussels, adding a subtle umeshu aroma. The mussels have a pleasantly firm texture.

🥩Black Pepper Umeshu Beef Tenderloin with Provençal Ratatouille
The beef is tender with a good bite, and the seasoning is just right, preserving the natural aroma of the ingredients. The ratatouille has a rich tomato flavor, making it quite appetizing.

🐙Octopus Provençal Ratatouille
The octopus is tender and chewy—very enjoyable 😋.

🍺The CHOYA Ume Rich Sparkling Umeshu
This sparkling umeshu has a strong effervescence and a refreshing plum aroma. It’s delightful to drink!

🤍Plum Tofu
The tofu is rich and creamy, complemented by the fruity aroma of plums and a sweet sauce. It’s a surprisingly delicious treat 🥰.

📍The CHOYA Ginza BAR
Address: Shop A, 8/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong