Umeboshi (Smoked Plum)
Umeboshi (Smoked Plum) (Black, flat and round, with an uneven, wrinkled surface, soft in texture, and sour)
【Name】
【Source】
Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Middle Grade; Supplementary Records
【Frequency of Use】
B
【Botanical Origin】
The dried, unripe fruit of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. of the Rosaceae family, processed by smoking.
【Characteristics】
It is oblate or irregularly spherical, with a diameter of 1.5-3 cm. The surface is dark brown to black, wrinkled, uneven. The pulp is soft. The pit is hard, brownish-yellow, and the shell is densely covered with small pockmarks, containing one light yellow seed. It has a peculiar odor, extremely sour taste, and a smoky aroma. After being processed with vinegar, the color becomes darker.
【Identification】
“The flesh of Umeboshi (Smoked Plum) from Anji is the best.” (Zunsheng Bajian). “The ones that are extremely dark black and taste sour are superior.” (Liang Lie Jianbie).
Good quality ones are large, fleshy, have small pits, a dark black outer skin, no cracks exposing the pit, are soft and moist, and have an extremely sour taste.
【Category】
Fruits