My Family's Umeshu Recipe with a Secret Step

Name: My Family's Umeshu Recipe with a Secret Step
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 kg Sour green plums; 1 4/5 liter Brandy or white liquor; 600 grams Rock sugar

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

This is the recipe passed down from my mother. She makes it every year when plums are in season.

If you steep the plums in brandy, it'll bring out the fragrance and flavor of the brandy. It's fine also with a neutral liquor like white liquor. If using white liquor, the ingredient amounts are the same!! Recipe by U-ra

This is the recipe passed down from my mother. She makes it every year when plums are in season.

cookpad.japan @cookpad_jp

This is the recipe passed down from my mother. She makes it every year when plums are in season.

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Ingredients

1 kgSour green plums
1 4/5 literBrandy or white liquor
600 gramsRock sugar

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Steps

1

Prep: Sterilize the container by cleaning with boiling water. Pat dry well so there is no moisture. *The results won't be as good if there's moisture left inside.
2

For extra measure, you could additionally clean with 45% proof alcoho (I used brandy). Wet a clean kitchen towel and wipe insides.
3

Soak the plums: Soak the plums for 2-4 hours to remove the astringency.
4

Sort the plums: Wash the soaked plums in running water and discard the ones with bruises.
5

Drain in a sieve and wipe each one carefully with a clean kitchen towel. *If you have time, let dry on top of a kitchen towel.
6

Remove the stems with a toothpick.
7

Layer the plums with rock sugar and repeat.
8

Carefully pour in the brandy and screw the lid on tight.
9

Storage: Store in a cool and dark place. Swish the contents of the jar a few times every month and keep for at least a year before enjoying.
10

Drinking: You could drink it after half a year, but the flavor will mellow out after a year. This photo shows the batch I made this year.
11

This is the batch I made with brandy in 2013. The flavor has mellowed and the color has darkened to a rich brown.