Japanese Nankou Green Ume (Plum)

Note: Current late season Ume are yellow-green (semi-ripe) in color. Green Ume are good for making ume wine (crisp, sweet to sour flavor), syrup and pickled ume. Semi-ripe to ripe Ume are good for making ume wine and syrup. (sweeter, mellower flavor).

In 1902, Mr. Sadakusu Takada of Kamiminabe Village noticed that there was one excellent species with large grains and beautiful crimson while taking over the plum seedlings, and grew the tree as a mother tree and increased the production of it. After that, Mr. Katsutaro Takenaka, a teacher at Nanbu High School, announced that the best one was named Minabe Koume as a result of a five-year research study. Nankou Ume (南高梅) is a strong and abundant ume tree and is suitable as a green plum for plum wine and plum juice, and as a pickled plum for pickled plums. Plum contains citric acid, which helps recover from fatigue, vitamins C and E, which are good for beauty, and iron.

Umeboshi is full of natural anti-oxidants, 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. In addition, it has been recently found that heating umeboshi produces vanillin, a chemical that helps to restrict the bloating of fat cells, providing potential support for people trying to control their weight. The saltiness and sourness combination makes it a perfect addition to rice, and has been used widely in many dishes.

Umeshu, on the other hand, helps one to recover from exhaustion. It also relieves constipation, prevents diarrhea, stimulates appetites, and has minerals and calcium. You can get tipsy and healthy at the same time. Not only does umeshu have fewer calories than beer and wine, it’s also gluten-free. Umeshu also contains essential minerals including calcium (key to bone strength), magnesium (lower blood pressure), manganese (contributes to healthy bone structure), zinc (helps the immune system), iron (supports red blood cell function) and potassium (crucial in heart function), as well as significant levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for protecting your body from damage caused by dangerous free radicals, which is believed to be a factor in cancer development. These minerals aren’t just essential for normal body function, but they’ll also make you feel noticeably more energetic, which may well be a key factor in the drink’s long history as a restorative.

Here’s how to make Umeboshi using our fresh plums

Here’s how to make Umeshu (Plum wine) using our fresh plums

Country of Origin: Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

Nutrition facts: Great Source of Vitamin-A, Vitamin-C, Vitamin-E, Vitamin-K, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium and copper.

Health Benefits:
– Lowers cholesterol and prevents cardiovascular
– Prevents Cancer
– Lowers GI (Glycemic Index)
– Protects against oxygen radical
– Protects against macular degeneration
– Improves digestive system
– Rich in anti-oxidants
– Good for brain health and nourishment
– Eliminates stress and fatigue
– Boosts bone health