Column
What Is Ume Extract? A Dark, Sour Processed Ume Product Made by Boiling Down Green Ume Juice
Ume extract (bainiku ekisu) is made by boiling down the juice of green ume over a long period. We have summarized what it is, how much ume is needed to make it, what research shows, how to understand Foods with Function Claims labeling, and precautions when consuming it.
Ume extract (bainiku ekisu or ume ekisu) is a dark, paste-like food made by simmering the juice of green ume over a long period of time. It is extremely sour and has traditionally been made at home for generations.
How Is It Made?
Green ume are grated and squeezed, and the extracted juice is boiled down carefully so it does not burn. As the liquid evaporates and the volume decreases, the color darkens and it thickens into a rich paste.
The amount produced is extremely small. The ume extract from a company in Wakayama Prefecture introduced by the prefecture is made by boiling down Nanko ume juice to about 1/50th of its original volume, with the company explaining that "only about 20 g can be obtained from 1 kg of green ume."
Compounds Created During Boiling
Ume extract is packed with acids from ume, such as citric acid. Furthermore, a Japanese research group reported in 1999 that a compound called mumefural is formed during the boiling down (heating) process.
The relationship between mumefural and blood flow is currently being investigated in test-tube and animal experiments. For details, please visit our Ume and Health pages.
Ume Extract as a "Food with Function Claims"
Some ume extract products are registered as Foods with Function Claims. This is a system in Japan where business operators submit scientific evidence to the Consumer Affairs Agency to display functional benefits on labels. Unlike Foods for Specified Health Uses (FSHU / FOSHU), they are not individually reviewed or approved by the government. The claims on the label should be understood as the business operator's explanation regarding that specific product.
Precautions for Consumption
- Because it is extremely sour, follow the recommended serving size on the product label and consume it little by little, such as by diluting it in cold or hot water.
- Ume extract is a food, not a medicine intended to cure illnesses.
- If you are undergoing medical treatment or taking medication, consult a doctor or pharmacist before consuming it.
Green ume become available in early summer. The season for making ume extract, along with umeshu and ume syrup, is summarized in our Year-Round "Ume Work" Calendar.
