Rick (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 02/15/2009
If you can find dried plum ( ume) extract, that is even better. These plums have been used for years for healing and to enhance health. Many japanese take a pickled plum with some tea to start their day. When available, Japanese samurai treasured it and consumed it daily also using it to purify water.
I use less than one eighth of a tsp. of the paste ( which I can find in health food stores and, wow, I have even seen it in some food markets) to enhance my morning tea.
It has an agressive flavor. It can jolt your eyes open so please be careful and dilute it before tasting it. It tastes acidic, tart, but it alkalizes the body.
Replied By Christy (France) on 02/17/2009
I use it almost everyday in my vegetable smoothie. I just tip out an unmeasured amount. Enough to taste. I couldn't imagine drinking my vegetable blends without it! I love the taste and the fact that it is alkalizing me.
Totally recommend it!
Replied By Kelly (Huntington Beach, CA) on 02/19/2009
Replied By Rick (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 03/02/2009
It has protected me from << tourista >>. When I feel a little tired I turn to the food that the samurai used to cure battle fatigue. I take a half tsp of the paste with a tsp of buckwheat honey. ( The honey is my idea.. I think it's a great mix though.. the bw honey is high in minerals and umeboshi assists mineral absorption. Tastes great !). It assists the liver. I get a good feedback from my body when I consume it: I feel energized !
It has an impressive nutritional profile and contains picric acid, catechin acid and citric acid.
The macrobiotic experts say that it is very balancing and strengthening.
Some sites for further details.
http://www.shejapan.com/jtyeholder/jtye/living/umeboshi/ume3.html
http://www.justaddcontent.co.uk/v1/livei/e016_101105.htm