Ume (Prunus mume) is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a “plum”, but is actually more closely related to the apricot.
Are ume apricots?
Known generally as the Japanese plum, the ume is actually a variety of apricot. The plump, deceptively sweet-looking ume is actually quite sour and is seldom eaten raw; instead, it’s salt-cured and sun dried for several days to create a purely Japanese creation: the wrinkled pink umeboshi, pickled Japanese apricot.
What is a Japanese plum called?
Eriobotrya japonica. Common Name. Loquat tree, Japanese plum, medlar, misbelief. Plant Type. Fruit tree.
Is ume a peach?
The most famous flowers that blossom during this period of the year are ume (plum blossom – 梅), sakura (cherry blossom – さくら/ 桜) and momo (peach blossom – 桃花).
Is ume the same as umeboshi?
Umeboshi is a traditional Japanese preserved plum. “Ume” is the Japanese word for plum fruit and “boshi” means dry. It is a traditional and popular preserved food made by pickling green and firm plums (Ao-ume) with salt then drying in the sun. It is often dyed red using purple Shiso perilla leaves.
What kind of fruit is ume?
plum
Ume (Prunus mume) is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a “plum”, but is actually more closely related to the apricot. Pickled ume which are not dried are called umezuke (梅漬け).
Can you eat ume plums?
How Are Ume Plums Being Used? Ume are extremely tart, astringent, and bitter, therefore they are not for eating raw – they will cause you a stomachache. However, they are perfectly safe to eat when salted or preserved in alcohol; or fermented into wine known as Umeshu (梅酒).
What does ume mean in Japanese?
ume (plural ume or umes) Japanese apricot, a species of Asian plum, Prunus mume.
Are ume poisonous?
Do not eat soft green plums taken from trees whole, with the seeds still in them. For safe eating, ume plums need to be heated, pickled or dried so that toxic cyanogenetic glycoside is destroyed.
What plums are used for umeboshi?
Ume Plums
To make umeboshi, you will need ripen, yellow, and blushed ume plums called Kanjuku Ume (完熟梅). You can make umeboshi with the green ones, but they have too much astringency, so you will need to soak the ume in water for 6 hours before you process. You will also need to use heavier weights to properly pickle.
Can you eat raw ume?
Japanese plums (梅-ume) are important for the Japanese, not only for their beautiful flowers but also for their culinary uses. They are lime green when unripe and a peachy-beige color when ripe. Ume are tart, bitter, and definitely not for snacking on raw.
What is a sour plum called?
The Sour Plum also is known as a Cherry Plum is the main ingredient of a tangy Georgian sauce called Tkemali. Tkemali is the Georgian name for cherry plum, as well as sauce made of cherry plums. Tkemali is made from both red and green varieties. Flavor of the sauce varies between sweet and pungently tart.
What does ume taste like?
Ume are chemically and gastronomically unique, similar to apricots in fragrance, oranges in color, and berries in acidity. Once you taste them, you’ll agree that there’s nothing quite like ume. Nanko-ume is the premier variety of ume, featuring a rich, apricot-like aroma and tart fruity flavor.
Why do Japanese eat umeboshi?
People in Japan have eaten umeboshi for centuries, having learned from experience of their restorative and preservative properties along with their virtues in helping to ward off colds and other bugs. People during the Heian Period (794–1185) used umeboshi as medicine.
How many umeboshi can you eat a day?
one per day
Umeboshi are really not something you just munch on whole unless you’re truly addicted to them, and the high salt content taken straight isn’t too healthy. It is generally recommended to limit yourself to one per day. Think of them as a sour-salty seasoning with a rich, fruity flavor.
Can you make umeboshi with regular plums?
As it turns out, you can’t find ume plums (Prunus mume) easily on the West Coast to make a truly traditional umeboshi, or Japanese salt-pickled plum. Fortunately, wild plums are small and tart enough to work in much the same way.
How do you eat umeboshi plums?
How do you Eat Umeboshi? Depending on the quality and the occasion, umeboshi can be enjoyed atop rice at any meal in a furikake mix, as one of the tsukemono (Japanese pickles) accompanying a meal, or aged as special occasion delicacies.
Are Japanese salty plums healthy?
Umeboshi are a good source of polyphenols, which are thought to reduce the risk of diabetes, help lower blood pressure, prevent hardening of the arteries, and boost calcium absorption.
What is ume sickness?
Uveitic cystoid macular edema (UME) is an important cause of visual morbidity among patients with both infectious and non-infectious uveitis. UME may be associated in more than 30% cases of active uveitis. However, even patients with minimal features of intraocular inflammation may develop recurrent or chronic UME.
Is umeboshi good for stomach?
Ume & Umeboshi are rich in potassium, manganese, and fibre. They help alleviate common digestive issues such as dyspepsia and bloating. The dietary fiber found in the fruit also adds bulk and roughage which ease the motion of stool and prevents constipation.
Can you buy ume in the US?
Turns out, the North American ume crop is small and the season short: The fruits are only available in stores for two to three weeks around late May/early June.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.