What is Green Plum Extract (Maesil Cheong) ?
Green Plum Extract (Maesil Cheong 매실청) or somtimes called Maesil Aek 매실액, it is a syrup made from unripe green plums (aka ume plums) fermented for 100 days with sugar. The syrup is used to add sweet and a very light sour taste to dishes. It is also made into hot or cold drink when mixed with hot or iced water.
Check out my Green Plum Syrup recipe post on how to make this syrup.
Not To Be Confused With
Plum Syrup or other Korean syrups such as below -
Where and What To Buy
Korean Grocery Stores, Amazon
How to Use/Cook
Korean Green Plum Extract or Maesil Cheong syrup is used to add mild sweetness, a hint of sourness and a fruity aroma to marinades, fish jorims, sauces, salad dressings. You can use it in any dishes that has a sweetness. But because it has a our flavor, do not add too much to dishes that require a lot of sweet flavor.
Substitute 4 tsp Korean green plum extract with 1 Tbs water + 1 tsp apple cider vinegar + 1/2 tsp sugar.
Use 1 to 1.
How to Clean/Store
Can be stored at room temperature for over a year. Can also be stored in the fridge in very warm climates.
How To Grow
You can grow Green Plum trees and harvest the plums in spring before they ripe. There are green plum farms in California as well as the east coast of US. When they become ripe, they become yellowish-orange and they are called Hwang Maesil 황매실. They have the texture of an apricot.
Nutrition/Health Info
Maesil Cheong (green plum extract) is known to also aid digestion. A hot cup of water with a couple Tbs of this syrup added is a great end of a meal drink.
