Umeboshi: Light Detoxification with The Ume Fruit

The Umeboshi is considered a detox superfood in Japan – but it can do much more. We explain why the Japanese plum is actually so healthy.

What is the Umeboshi?

Umeboshi (dried plum) is the name given to Ume fruits that are pickled with salt and sour. It is also known as Japanese plum or Japanese apricot. Umeboshi has been used for centuries as a remedy for various health problems.

Originally from China, the Ume fruit is just as common in Japan – where it is often eaten with some green tea for breakfast. Many Asian restaurants around the world also offer Ume liqueur. Umeboshi has the same meaning to the Japanese as an apple has to us: one a day keeps the doctor away.

What does the Umeboshi do?

Japanese plums are said to have the following health effects:

• Purifies: As they have a detoxifying effect on the body, the fruits are considered detox helpers
• Gently helps with stomach problems: For nausea or constipation, it helps to take an Umeboshi on an empty stomach in combination with a large glass of water
• Detoxifies: the plum stimulates the liver and kidneys, which means that toxins are flushed out more quickly
• Has an alkaline effect: Umeboshi are alkaline fruits and thus help against acidity Acidification is often associated with poor skin condition

• Stimulated: The regeneration of the body is stimulated by the plum
• Strengthens the immune system: The Ume fruit is pickled sour for up to two months. The “lactic acid fermentation” used in this process produces more of the good lactic acid bacteria that strengthen the intestinal flora, which in turn supports the immune system
• Defeats the hangover: The sour-salty taste of the Umeboshi helps in the morning after a drunken night with a lot of alcohol. The fruit refreshes and provides us with all the minerals we need to fight hangover symptoms such as tiredness and headaches.

Why the fruit is not for everyone

As healthy as the Umeboshi is, not everyone can enjoy its taste, because the sour-salty taste is very intense. But: Umeboshi is also available as a paste (Ume Su), which is suitable for seasoning dishes and with which you can detoxify naturally.