Mume Fruit (Black, flat, and round, with an uneven, wrinkled surface, soft texture, and sour taste)

【Name】

Mume Fruit

 【Source】

Listed as a medium-grade herb in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, also recorded in Bielu.

 【Common Usage Level】

B

 【Botanical Origin】

The dried, unripe fruit of the Rosaceae plant, Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc., that has been smoked.

 【Characteristics】

It is flat and round or irregularly spherical, with a diameter of 1.5-3cm. The surface is brownish-black to black, wrinkled, and uneven. The flesh is soft. The pit is hard, brownish-yellow, and densely covered with small pits. It contains one pale yellow seed kernel. It has a unique aroma, an extremely sour taste, and a smoky smell. The color darkens after being processed with vinegar.

 【Identification】

Zunsheng Bajian: “The mume fruit from Anji is the best.” Liang Lie Jian Bie: “The best quality is extremely dark black and tastes sour.” The best quality is large in size, thick-fleshed, small-pitted, black on the outside, not cracked open to expose the pit, soft, and extremely sour.

 【Category】

Fruits