Organic Japanese Umeboshi Plums
Free UK delivery on orders over £55
Packed with care in the UK
Description
Ingredients
Japanese ume plums* (79%), sea salt, shiso (perilla) leaves* (6%) *organically grown
Nutritional Info
- Fat Free
- Saturated Fat Free
- Low Sugar
- Source of Protein
For an explanation of the claims made above please click here
| Typical values | g per 100g |
|---|---|
| Energy kCal: | 32 kcal |
| Protein: | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate: | 4.3 g |
| of which sugars: | 1 g |
| Fat: | < 0.5 g |
| of which saturates: | < 0.1 g |
| Salt: | 17.5 g |
| Energy kJ: | 134 kJ |
Organic
Plant-based100% plant-based ingredients
No refined sugar, just naturally balanced flavour
Free from artificial ingredients and preservatives
Clearspring Organic Umeboshi are tart, tangy, salt pickled ume plums that have long been a vital part of Japanese cuisine and folk medicine. Small pieces add zest to sushi and rice balls and can be rubbed onto cooked sweetcorn or used in other dishes. Taken alone, umeboshi flesh has been traditionally used as a digestive tonic. Umeboshi are a concentrated food and only a small amount is needed.
Umeboshi production
Clearspring Organic Umeboshi plums are produced on a small scale by a family in Wakayama, the best known ume fruit growing area in Japan. They are passionate about small scale farming and food production, managing their orchard using organic methods and following the traditional slow practice of lactic acid pickling when making their exquisite umeboshi.
They harvest their fruit towards the end of June when it is partially ripe and the juice still acid enough to give the desired tartness to the pickles. Picked too early, and the pickles remain hard, whilst picked later when fully ripe, produces mushy, tasteless pickles.
After harvesting they soak the fruit overnight to remove any bitterness, then pack it in barrels with layers of salt and leave it to pickle for a few weeks. The secret of the pickling process, they say, is to allow the beneficial lactic-acid-forming bacteria to develop before other competing bacteria gain a hold. The right amount of salt - lactic-acid bacteria are salt-tolerant whilst many other species are not - and a cool, dark place for pickling, are critical to this process.
Around late July, when pickling is complete, they dry their umeboshi on trays in the sun and then carry out a second, shorter pickling in the brine of pickled leaves of the fragrant red shiso herb which gives umeboshi their characteristic crimson colour and spicy flavour.
Our producer is exceptionally skilled in using traditional methods, which is why their organic plums are amongst the finest umeboshi products in Japan.
You may also like
I received my jar of Japanese plums from Clearspring very quickly. I would certainly order again from this company.
Sadly there was absolutely no way I could open the lid on the jar, it was totally stuck and no matter what I tried it would not open.
Eventually I decided that the only way to get in was by completely destroying the lid (photo supplied). I was then able to taste the plums, the like of which I had never tasted before. Very unusual indeed.
I love umeboshi plums and the settling effect they have on your stomach!
I have trusted the Clearspring brand to be organic and good quality since I had my first umeboshi plum over 30 years ago!
When I was young, a Japanese family lived in our street. I have very vivid memories of being given a rice ball, wrapped in seaweed and containing a sour plum. It was delicious. I ordered a jar of these for a friend who mentioned that she loves them and added another to my order so I could try to make the rice balls. The taste was as good as I remember (although my rice wasn't perfect). Really delicious, sour but very tasty. My son (aged 12) loved it too!
I love Clearspring products. I just cannot afford them all the time. They are a real treat.
great product, quick delivery - thank you!
I am disappointed at the condition of the box in which the umeboshi were.
The top was cracked and the umeboshi tend to be drier rather than as they are as when one buys them in their individual small tubs.
Hi Catherine, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're very sorry about the damaged product, this must have happened in transit. We'd be more than happy to replace it. Please get in touch with our customer services team.
Very good quality umeboshi. Indispensable. Thank you.
It tastes like traditional pickled plums, which my grandma used to make by hand at home.
Just glad to be able to get hold of good quality umeboshi plums.
I love umeboshi paste and use it a lot with rice and green vegetables like cabbage and kale, and also in making sauces for vegetables and beans. But whole umeboshi plums are even better. Yes, buying a tub of them seemed a bit expensive, but they are beautiful. And well worth it. Thank you Clearspring for making it possible for us to enjoy such a delicious and (for me at least) such an indispensable ingredient, made with so much skill and traditional knowledge.
The photo/description of the product needs to be updated to reflect that these are no longer Kosher certified
Hi Esther, thank you for taking the time to leave a review and flag this up. The 1kg pack image has now been updated. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
really nice, tasty and juicy umeboshi plums. couldn't find them anywhere in the shops, but clearspring got me covered :)
I couldn’t find umeboshi in my local Asian shops. Clearspring umeboshi are with shiso, taste great, very juicy and good value.
I've enjoyed umeboshi since my first visit to japan quite a few years ago. Clearspring umeboshi are unquestionably the best I've found in the UK. They're sharp and salty, just as they should be, without artificial flavouring as some are (even of Japanese origin), making a perfect accompaniment to rice as part of a Japanese meal. I use other Clerspring products and now know where to go for umeboshi.
I have used Clear Spring for a while now and have been very pleased with both the products and the efficiency of the delivery.
Very good quality and satisfying size of plum.
Very happy with food standard, too.
Unfortunately, it arrived as damaged to start with but Clearspring shop team dealt and replaced immediately and professionally. Thank you very much.
a must in every kitchen
Excellent. Love them
lovely plums. :-)) Actually very grateful to find organic, natural umi plums in the UK.
I heard that having one umeboshi per day is very beneficial to the health. I eat this putting in yogurt. It is tangy and sour but it is refreshing.
Umeboshi plums are Just perfect!
For over ten years this is a must have at my home. Perfect umbeboshi
Taste great, have brilliant medicinal properties for the stomach.
Very good quality product. I would suggest adding just one to your plate and adding a small bit to your fork with each mouthful, particularly if you haven’t tried this before. It has a very strong, tarte flavour, a bit like a sour prune (prunes have a rich texture and slightly sweet ‘jam’ taste). Eaten in small amounts, an Umeboshi plum adds a more interesting depth of flavour to your dishes. Quite excited to have found this one, and I will definitely be repurchasing.
I have eaten umeboshi for nearly 40 years. Lately, I had an ulcer; instead of upsetting my gut with antibiotics to kill off the H Pylory bacteria, I had 2 umeboshi on an empty stomach every morning for a
few weeks. I test negative for H; Pylory bacteria, now. Hangover? 1 Umeboshi with a glass of water and 15 minutes later, the hangover is gone. Don't do this every week, however, or it will stop working. I could go on....
The product is excellent. The order was delivered promptly and in first class condition.
Great product
When i opened my jar of plums they were badly blemished with black spots, The date was 29-03-2016 to 20-03-2019,
Contact clear spring showed them the photos with date and they implied that they were only sorry for my frustration. I feel very let down by the product and how it was dealt with too.
Hi Julianne, thank you for the information. We investigated with our supplier and can confirm that as the product is organic with no artificial colours or preservatives, natural imperfections on the surface of the plum can occur from time to time. These spots do not affect the quality or the safety of the product.
We hope this reassures you :)
Nice.
Thank you very much Andy :)
Use as natural antibiotic .....
Thank you for the great review Erica :)
Very efficient service. Products were excellent.
That's great to hear that you were happy with our service Elaine :) Thank you!
