After soaking overnight, drain and dry the plums. Made ready a bowl of shochu or vodka, and dunk the ume plums completely in the alcohol. This is to kill any kind of mold spores on the surface. Preparing the red shiso leaves Umeboshi plums are indispensable in every Japanese and macrobiotic household for their healing qualities (Screenshot/Natures- Glory.com). Another study published in Tumori treated pancreatic cancer cells with an extract from ume fruit and also noted that it successfully stopped cancer growth. Furthermore, the ume fruit extract managed to kill off cancer cells while sparing the normal, healthy cells. ( 10) We often serve umeboshi with steamed rice, ochazuke, okayu (rice porridge), sometimes as a filling inside onigiri (rice ball), or even in Japanese-style pasta! Is Umeboshi Healthy?

Once the liquid is about 2 cm (an inch) above the top of the ume plums, reduce the weight by half, and leave the ume plums in the jar in the liquid until it's time to dry them in the sun. Umeboshi pastes and vinegars are equally useful for imparting sharp and fruity flavours to dishes and dressings. Umeboshi is the term for a sour plum once used primarily for medicinal purposes. Legend has it Samurai warriors consumed them before heading into battle for extra fortitude; today, they’re touted as a great hangover cure. Inspect your plums and set aside any that are bruised, split or withered for another recipe – you need fruit in peak condition. Discard any stalks, rinse the fruit in water, then leave to dry.Though both sometimes look the same, the texture of umezuke is much softer than umeboshi and is often a little darker in color. What does umeboshi taste like?

Umeboshi plums contain various potent compounds which may be effective in the treatment and prevention of cancer. A study published in 2007 looked at the effects of umeboshi extract on cancerous liver cells. The researchers found that the fruit extracts were able to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells. (6) I understand that ume plums are now available in the United States. When you buy them, make sure you choose ones that are firm, plump and unblemished. Even small blemishes or cuts on the plums could lead to mold, which is the biggest reason umeboshi can fail. From a poor diet to factors like stress, smoking and pollution, there are many ways that free radicals can form in the body. These highly unstable molecules cause oxidative damage that can contribute to the development of chronic disease. ( 12) Weigh the plum halves and work out 10% of this weight in salt – for example, if you have 400g plum halves, you’ll need 40g salt. Beginning with a layer of salt, layer the plums into the sterilised jar, sprinkling each layer with more salt. End with a final layer of salt, then seal the jar. Ume fruit has been shown to have a natural laxative effect. A 2013 animal study found that giving rats ume fruit improved gastric motility, or the movement of food through the digestive tract, and helped treat constipation. ( 7)Troubleshooting: If it rains hard and your plums get very wet, take them in and rinse them off in plain water. Take the ume vinegar out of the jar, wash and re-disinfect the jar with vodka or shochu, and re-immerse your plums in the liquid for a day. Re-dry them on the next sunny day.) Today, many younger Japanese eat fewer of these salty, sour, and fruity plums than their older generation. Topping ingredients include a pitted, finely chopped umeboshi plum, green onions or shiso leaves, and toasted white sesame seeds.

Since you can store umeboshi at room temperature, it is considered as emergency food. However, it’s also recommended not to take too many, as umeboshi is quite salty. Everything in moderation. In the flavored variety, the umeboshi plums are marinated in different liquids, including honey, apple, and blueberry vinegar. The acid helps improve liver function, especially the damage caused by alcohol and fatigue. The liver is a vital organ that detoxifies the blood, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, regulates blood clotting, and metabolizes fat, so it’s critical to keep it functioning. To get full benefits, umeboshi, eat at least 1 to 2 plums a day. This should be enough to give you all the essential nutrients you need, along with ample antioxidants. Strengthening bonesThe recipe is simple! Just top the noodles with all the above ingredients and finish them with a crushed umeboshi plum. In the last, add some noodle soup, mix it, and then serve. Umeboshi are round and wrinkled with a distinctly sour taste thanks to their high content of citric acid. In fact, ume fruit are harvested at the end of June, right when their juice has reached peak acidity. Because of their intense flavor, umeboshi is typically combined with white rice and consumed as a side dish or inside a rice ball. Umeboshi paste and umeboshi vinegar are also available for an easy way to spice up any dish. In another study, pancreatic cancer cells were treated with umeboshi fruit extract. The researchers found that the extract was able to inhibit the growth of these cells by apoptosis while leaving healthy cells untouched. (7) Umeboshi are usually round and vary from smooth to very wrinkled. Usually they taste salty, and are extremely sour due to high citric acid [3] content, but sweeter versions exist as well. [4] Production [ edit ]

Once the container is full and weighted down, cover the top with a clean, porous cloth like a cheesecloth or openweave kitchen towel; secure this with a rubber band or string. Leave in a cool, dark area of your house, until the ume plums become soft and __completely immersed in a reddish liquid__. This liquid is extracted from the ume plums by the salt. This part of the process will take about a week or more. So if you are apt to defy the traditions, the following are some interesting combinations in which you can serve umeboshi. Umeboshi steamed rice with genmai cha, dashi, and nori seaweed Drizzle umeboshi vinegar over steamed, sautéed, or stir-fried vegetable dishes. Use it as a substitute for fish sauce in Asian recipes, and instead of anchovies in others. We can only be talking the powerful potent weapon that is sour plums or umeboshi. What are Umbeoshi? Some research has found that including umeboshi in your diet could help preserve the function of the liver. A 2012 study in the World Journal of Gastroenterology followed 58 patients with liver disease and found that supplementing with ume fruit extract actually decreased liver damage. ( 5)

You can also find low-sodium or sweet umeboshi with honey. These types are not made traditionally and contain preservatives but are more accessible for beginners. How To Store Umeboshi plums are typically paired with rice to tone down their strong flavor. They can be consumed in onigiri, rice balls wrapped in seaweed, or with ochazuke, a traditional dish in which green tea is poured over cooked rice. Umeboshi can also be cooked, seasoned and served for dinner or used as a delicious addition to a hot cup of tea. Hence it is seldom eaten on its own and is often served as a condiment with other dishes, rice being the most common.