Maesil-cheong

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Maesil-cheong
Maesilcheong (plum syrup) (prunus mume).jpg
Alternative names Plum syrup
Type Cheong , syrup
Place of origin Korea
Associated national cuisine Korean cuisine
Korean name
Hangul 매실청
Hanja 梅實淸
Revised Romanization maesil-cheong
McCune–Reischauer maesil-ch'ǒng
IPA [mɛ.ɕil.tɕʰʌŋ]

Maesil-cheong (매실청;梅實淸), also called plum syrup, is an anti-microbial syrup made by sugaring ripe plums (Prunus mume). In Korean cuisine, maesil-cheong is used as a condiment and sugar substitute. The tea made by mixing water with maesil-cheong is called maesil-cha (plum tea).

Sugaring is a food preservation method similar to pickling. Sugaring is the process of desiccating a food by first dehydrating it, then packing it with pure sugar. This sugar can be crystalline in the form of table or raw sugar, or it can be a high sugar density liquid such as honey, syrup or molasses.

<i>Prunus mume</i> species of plant

Prunus mume is an Asian tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus subgenus Prunus. Its common names include Chinese plum and Japanese apricot. The flower is usually called plum blossom. This distinct tree species is related to both the plum and apricot trees. Although generally referred to as a sour green plum or just green plum in English, it is more closely related to the apricot and should not be confused with the greengage European plum cultivar. In Chinese, Japanese and Korean cooking, the fruit of the tree is used in juices, as a flavouring for alcohol, as a pickle and in sauces. It is also used in traditional medicine.

Korean cuisine The customary cooking traditions and practices of Korea

Korean cuisine is the customary cooking traditions and practices of the culinary arts of Korea. Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine has evolved through a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends.

Contents

Preparation

It can be made by simply mixing plums and sugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days. [1] To make syrup, the ratio of sugar to plum should be at least 1:1 to prevent fermentation, by which the liquid may turn into wine. [2] The plums can be removed after 100 days, and the syrup can be consumed right away, or mature for a year or more. [1]

Fermentation Anaerobic enzymatic conversion of organic compounds

Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In the context of food production, it may more broadly refer to any process in which the activity of microorganisms brings about a desirable change to a foodstuff or beverage. The science of fermentation is known as zymology.

Wine alcoholic drink made from grapes

Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol, carbon dioxide, and heat. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine. These variations result from the complex interactions between the biochemical development of the grape, the reactions involved in fermentation, the terroir, and the production process. Many countries enact legal appellations intended to define styles and qualities of wine. These typically restrict the geographical origin and permitted varieties of grapes, as well as other aspects of wine production. Wines not made from grapes include rice wine and fruit wines such as plum, cherry, pomegranate, currant and elderberry.

See also

Fruit syrup

Fruit syrups or fruit molasses are concentrated fruit juices used as sweeteners.

Maesil-cha

Maesil-cha or plum tea is a traditional Korean tea made from maesil, omae, or maesil-cheong.

Maesil-ju

Maesil-ju, also called plum wine, plum liquor, or plum liqueur, is an alcoholic drink infused with maesil (plums).

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Marmalade fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits boiled with sugar and water

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<i>Yuzu</i> citrus fruit and plant

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Yuja tea yuja tea

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<i>Pseudocydonia</i> species of plant

Pseudocydonia sinensis, the Chinese quince, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern Asia in China, and the sole species in the genus Pseudocydonia. It is closely related to the east Asian genus Chaenomeles, and is sometimes placed in Chaenomeles as C. sinensis, but notable differences are the lack of thorns, and that the flowers are produced singly, not in clusters. The Chinese quince is also closely related to the European Quince, Cydonia oblonga; notable differences include the serrated leaves, and lack of fuzz.

Hwachae Korean traditional drinks

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Yuja-hwachae is a variety of hwachae, Korean traditional fruit punch made with finely shredded yuja, Korean pear, and honey or sugar. In Korea, yuja are largely cultivated in the southern part of the Korean peninsula such as Goheung and Wando, Geoje, and Namhae. Therefore, yuja hwachae has been a local specialty of the Jeolla Province and Gyeongsang Province.

Jeonggwa Korean confection

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Ginger tea tea made from ginger root

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Omija-hwachae magnolia berry punch

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Mogwa-cha quince tea

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Dangyuja is a Korean citrus fruit that is a specialty of Jeju Island. In Jeju language, it is called daengyuji. Dangyuja has a similar shape and flavour to yuja, but is genealogically a variety of pomelo.

Persimmon leaf tea persimmon leaf tea

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Plum blossom tea

Maehwa-cha or plum blossom tea is a traditional Korean tea made by infusing dried flowers of Korean plum in hot water. During the early spring, half-open buds of plum blossoms are picked, dried, and preserved in honey. It is served, with ten flowers in a teapot and by pouring 50 millilitres of hot water. The tea can be enjoyed after one to two minutes of steeping.

References

  1. 1 2 Baek, Jong-hyun (23 April 2016). "A taste of Korea with three regional delights". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  2. 한, 동하 (1 June 2016). "청(淸)과 발효액은 어떻게 다를까?". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 18 December 2016.