Brine from natural pickling: Ryujin Red Plum Vinegar

Ryujin Plum vinegar is cultivated without the use of chemical fertilisers or pesticides. This zesty palate-cleansing flavour is obtained from a natural process of extracting white vinegar and then adding red Shiso leaves to produce red plum vinegar.

The traditional method of producing pickled plums and plum vinegar have been passed on for years. Only a few manufacturers still use organically grown plums to extract plum vinegar. In fact, many plum vinegars sold commercially use red dye, citric acids, and commercial salt, which distorts its natural medicinal effects.

Organic agricultural practices are often more complicated (and take longer) than using pesticides to manage crops. Therefore, there is a limit to how much can be produced. This plum vinegar is notable for its high nutritional value and special cultivation methods without using pesticides. In the same way, the organic price tag more closely reflects the true cost of growing the food.

Red and White Plum Vinegar: What's their difference?

There are two types of plum vinegar, "white umezu" and “red umezu”. The white plum vinegar is the first batch of vinegar that emerges from pickled umeboshi (plums) whereas the "red umezu" is red vinegar with its colors deriving from red perilla leaves.

White plum vinegar is perfect when you want a subtle scent of plums whose colour and taste will not overpower the dish. The simple flavor combination of plums and salt makes it an easy condiment for pairing.

Red plum vinegar contains the scent and ingredients of red perilla. It is believed that red plum vinegar is more nutritious due to the high medicinal properties of red perilla. The red vinegar is fruity and salty. It makes for a perfect salad dressing, or a nice base ingredient to experiment with in the kitchen. It also is an important ingredient for making Japanese pickles such as pickled radish or sakura.

At Ryujin, raw and unripe plums are harvested for plum vinegar. They are selected carefully by hand. Later, they are set aside for ripening before adding Shiso leaves to produce red brine known as red plum vinegar.

Is it Safe for Consumption?

Ryujin is devoted to using natural repellent and foliar application to replace synthetic pesticides and chemical fertiliser. This helps to control problems with fruit trees without compromising the crop. By producing additive free products, we deliver delicious red plum vinegar that is not only safe for consumption, but also enjoyable for the entire family.

Origin of Ryujin plum

From the highest mountain in Kishu of Wakayama Prefecture towards the vast open valley of Hidakawa river, resides the nature and history of Ryujin Plum. There are about 1,600 plum trees in this 3-hectare field in Umeno.

Without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers, plums are cultivated the old-fashioned way by using natural composts such as tree bark. Ryujin village is filled with the inviting fragrance of plum blossoms.

Ryujin Plum produces more than 50 tons of products every year. Don't miss this opportunity to taste the cultivation through nature with uncompromising quality.

What is Umeboshi Vinegar and How to Use it
Prized for its unique nutrient profile, Umeboshi is a highly salted pickled plums that's been a beloved part of the Japanese diet for centuries. In this article, we introduce the composition of Umeboshi Vinegar, ways the vinegar acts as an accent to a variety of dishes and compare types of Umeboshi Vinegar.
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How To Make Umeboshi
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Health benefits of Plum Vinegar

Born by natural fermentation, plum vinegar is rich in organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, polyphenol and more. Due to its abundance of nutrients, no wonder people from all over the world are pivoting towards umeboshi vinegar.

One of the efficacy of umeboshi vinegar is the prevention of food poisoning. Plum vinegar contains about 20% salt and about 4% citric acid. Thus, the combination of both have a strong bactericidal effect and to ward off food poisoning.

The polyphenols contained in plum vinegar is a scintillating element. First, it has antiviral effects towards influenza virus, cold labialis, polio, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and norovirus. Next, anti-inflammatory effects especially towards chronic inflammation.

The myriad of antioxidant ingredients such as "polyphenol", "vitamin E", and "plum lignan" helps to slow down aging as well as suppressing or repairing DNA mutations that lead to the development of cancer.

Finally, plum extract not only reduces LDL cholesterol level in the blood (arteriosclerosis caused by fat in the blood), it also helps to improve blood flow, thereby suppressing hypertension and rising blood pressure.

Customer Testimonials

Remedy for heat stroke prevention
The summer sun is unforgiving, therefore heat exhaustion is common. Plum vinegar is known as a source of antioxidants that helps to soothe internal inflammation. Besides, this product is great for vegetable pickling.

Momo (Around 40 years old, Female)

The hallmark of good Plum Vinegar
The refreshing acidity means a little goes a long way. I have a particular affinity for this vinegar as a salad dressing for light-colored vegetables.

Anonymous User （Around 40 years old, Male)

Amazing for pickling purposes
This is my first time purchasing the Ryujin Red Plum Vinegar. The size and amount are reasonable. I must say, this distinct flavour is exactly what I was looking for! The salt content is not overwhelming and I can incorporate it easily into any dishes.

Makishi (Around 50 years old, Female)

Process of Harvesting Plum Vinegar

Plum vinegar is extracted at a certain point in the process of regular umeboshi making. For red vinegar, they are made by soaking shiso leaves.

Process

1. Harvesting

We harvest raw and unripe plums for plum vinegar. They are selected carefully by hand. Later, they are set aside to allow ripening.

 

2. Salting

Like ordinary umeboshi making, plums are salted to produce plum extract. As it is a time-consuming process, frequent checks on the plums are vital every few days.

 

3. White Plum Vinegar extracted

The white plum vinegar extract are filled with nutrients plenty. The colour is clear and transparent.

 

4. Harvest Red Shiso

In order to produce red plum vinegar, Shiso leaves are added. The leaves are harvested individually by hand. Only high quality shiso are selected and used for plum vinegar.

 

5. Red Plum Vinegar extracted

After immersing red Shiso leaves into the existing plum vinegar extract, red plum vinegar is produced. The vibrant colour not only adds to its uniqueness, but also livens the nutrition and umami for various dishes.

Recipes for Plum Vinegar

Here are a few examples of how to use umeboshi vinegar for an unforgettable condiment journey:

Red ginger

Servings for2persons

Cooking time1day

　Ingredients

・Red Plum Vinegar

100 g

・Salt

3 g

・Ginger

100 g

　Steps:

1

Slice ginger into 3mm width then sprinkle with salt. Set aside for an hour.

2

Wait patiently for the salt to draw out the water from ginger via osmosis. Squeeze with both hands and let dry for half a day.

3

When ginger dries, put it into a container and soak with red plum vinegar. Allow sit for half a day.

Red Plum Vinegar Drink

Servings for1person

Cooking time5minutes

　Ingredients

・Red Plum Vinegar

1 teaspoon

・Honey

2 teaspoons

・Cold Water

100 ml

・Ice

optional

　Steps:

1

Combine and stir in honey and plum vinegar.

2

Add chilled water and ice. Drink is ready to serve!

Product Details

Product Name	Ryujin Red Plum Vinegar- made from organic, pesticide-free cultivation 700 ml
Ingredients	Plum (produced in Wakayama Prefecture), salt (Shimamazu Okinawa Prefecture), Shiso
Net weight	700 ml
Storage Method	Keep in cool dark place