Since 1970 — over 50 years of history and tradition
Helios Distillery’s “Uruma” Habu Snake Liqueur is a long-selling classic that has been enjoyed for more than 50 years. As the original Habu liqueur, it helped spark a major Habu liqueur boom in Japan.
At Helios Distillery, we began researching Habu liqueur at an early stage. By using rum as the base spirit, we successfully transformed the Habu’s distinctive raw aroma into a refined, smooth drinking experience, while also developing a method to extract a high concentration of Habu extract.
“Uruma” is made with rum distilled from sugarcane, one of Okinawa’s most important agricultural crops, and infused with an extract from the Habu, a snake known for its remarkable vitality. The result is a sweet, aromatic, smooth and mellow Habu liqueur that is easy to drink and has gained many devoted fans.
Recently, enjoying it as a shot, much like tequila, has also become popular in the club scene.
Please enjoy responsibly, in moderation, and savor every sip.🐍
*“Uruma” is an Okinawan word meaning “Okinawa.”
【Habu Liqueur Production Process】
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- Purchasing the Habu vipers
Captured through Nago City’s Habu Control Program, the vipers are frozen and stored immediately while fresh. - Removal of internal organs
The organs are carefully removed and processed. - Sorting by size
The vipers are sorted according to their size. - Pre-soaking in alcohol
They are briefly soaked and secured with their mouths held wide open. - Primary steeping
An extended steeping process is used to fully extract the Habu’s rich essence. - Blending the final product
The base spirit and ingredients are carefully blended. - Bottling
The liqueur is filled into bottles (for whole-Habu versions, the viper is placed inside at this stage). - Labeling & Completion
Labels are applied, and the product is complete!
- Purchasing the Habu vipers
【Habu Liqueur “Uruma” Q&A】
A Habu is a venomous pit viper native to Okinawa and the Amami Islands. Known for its remarkable vitality, Habu vipers have long been valued in Okinawa as a traditional ingredient in wellness drinks.
The most distinctive feature of “Uruma” is that it is infused in rum, a distilled spirit made from sugarcane. Compared to traditional varieties infused in Awamori (rice spirit), “Uruma” offers a sweet, aromatic, and mellow taste that eliminates the strong raw aroma often associated with Habu, while allowing for a much higher concentration of Habu extract.
*About the name “Uruma”: “Uru” means coral and “ma” means island, making “Uruma” a poetic Okinawan name meaning “island of coral reefs.”
Yes, it is completely safe. Habu venom is entirely neutralized and rendered harmless by alcohol, so you can enjoy it with complete peace of mind.
Habu extract contains vitamins, peptides, taurine, and other components. Working alongside carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, these are often regarded as the “fourth major nutrient” that helps maintain the body’s overall condition. It also contains all eight essential amino acids indispensable to the human body.
“Uruma” can be enjoyed however you like—straight, on the rocks, mixed with cold or hot water, or in cocktails. Enjoy it at your preferred strength. It is also delicious with a drizzle of honey, added to black tea, or poured over vanilla ice cream!
Because Helios Distillery’s Habu liqueur is rum-based, it features a sweet, smooth, and incredibly approachable flavor with absolutely no unpleasant odor.
We also highly recommend “Hydra,” a dangerously delicious snake liqueur made by infusing three types of snakes—Habu, sea snake, and Mamushi pit viper—with three types of herbs in Okinawan rum.
The Kusu-gura Shop Naha Branch is located inside the souvenir shop “Iimono Tankentai” (@pinkonomise), about 60 meters from the entrance of Naha’s Heiwa-dori Shopping Street, on the left-hand side.
Look for the large sign featuring a Shisa illustration!
At our Kusu-gura Shop in Kyoda, Nago City, where our headquarters are located, you can also discover rare Awamori straight from the brewery and enjoy a tour of the distillery.
If you are visiting the northern part of Okinawa, be sure to stop by!
Distillery tours are available by reservation. You can make a reservation or inquire about a tour through our website or by phone.
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