Prunus mume, the Chinese plum,[
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target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. is a tree species in the family Rosaceae.
The plant is intimately associated with art, literature, and everyday life in China,
Prunus mume should not be confused with the plum Prunus salicina, a related species also grown in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, nor with the common apricot Prunus armeniaca, which is closely related under the same section.
Origin
Prunus mume originated in the region around the Yangtze River in southern China and was cultivated domestically for both its ornamental beauty and its fruit.[
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Description
Prunus mume is a deciduous tree that starts to flower in mid-winter, typically around January until late February in East Asia. It can grow to tall.[ The flowers are in diameter and have a strong fragrant scent.][ The fruit ripens in early summer, around June and July in East Asia, and coincides with the East Asian rainy season, the meiyu (, "plum rain").][ The skin turns yellow, sometimes with a red blush, as it ripens, and the flesh becomes yellow. The tree is Agriculture for its fruit and .]
Names
Native to southern China, where it is known as mei (梅).
The flower is known as the meihua (梅花) in Chinese, which came to be translated as "plum blossom"
In Chinese language, it is called mei () and the fruit is called meizi (). The Japanese name is ume (), while the Korean language name is maesil (). The Japanese and Korean terms derive from Middle Chinese, in which the pronunciation is thought to have been muəi.[Yamaguchi, Y., ed.: " Kurashi no kotoba: Gogen Jiten", page 103. Kodansha, 1998] The Vietnamese name is mai or mơ (although mai vàng refers to a different plant, Ochna integerrima, in southern Vietnam).
Varieties
Ornamental tree varieties and cultivars of P. mume have been cultivated for planting in various gardens throughout East Asia, and for cut blossoming branches used in flower arrangements.
Chinese varieties
In China, there are over 300 recorded of Prunus mume.[
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Upright Mei Group (直枝梅類), Prunus mume var. typica
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Pleiocarpa Form (品字梅型)
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Single Flowered Form (江梅型)
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Pink Double Form (宮粉型)
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Alboplena Form (玉蝶型)
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Flavescens Form (黃香型)
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Green Calyx Form (綠萼型)
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Versicolor Form (灑金型)
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Cinnabar Purple Form (硃砂型)
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Pendulous Mei Group (垂枝梅類), Prunus mume var. pendula
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Pink Pendulous Form (粉花垂枝型)
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Versicolor Pendulous Form (五寶垂枝型)
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Albiflora Pendulous Form (殘雪垂枝型)
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Viridiflora Pendulous Form (白碧垂枝型)
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Atropurpurea Pendulous Form (骨紅垂枝型)
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Tortuous Dragon Group (龍游梅類), Prunus mume var. tortuosa
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Apricot Mei Group (杏梅類), Prunus mume var. bungo
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Blireiana Group (櫻李梅類), Prunus × blireana, Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii' × Prunus mume Alphandii
It is disputed whether Prunus zhengheensis () is a separate species
Japanese varieties
In Japan, Ornamental plant Prunus mume are classified into yabai (wild), hibai (red), and bungo (Bungo Province) types. The bungo trees are also grown for fruit and are hybrids between Prunus mume and apricot. The hibai trees have red heartwood and most of them have red flowers. The yabai trees are also used as grafting stock. Among yabai trees, Nankoume is a very popular variety in Japan,
Uses
Culinary use
Beverage
In China, suanmeitang (酸梅湯; "sour plum juice") is made from , called wumei (烏梅).[ It ranges from light pinkish-orange to purplish black in colour and often has a smoky and slightly salty taste. It is traditionally flavoured with sweet osmanthus flowers, and is enjoyed chilled, usually in summer.
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In Korea, both the flowers and the fruits are used to make tea. Maehwa-cha (매화차, 梅花茶; "plum blossom tea") is made by infusing the flowers in hot water. Maesil-cha (매실차, 梅實茶; "plum tea") is made by mixing water with maesil-cheong (plum syrup) and is served either hot or cold.
In Japan, a similar drink is made from green plums and tastes sweet and tangy, is considered a cold, refreshing drink, and is often enjoyed in the summer.
Condiment
A thick, sweet Chinese sauce called meijiang (梅醬) or meizijiang (梅子醬), usually translated as "plum sauce", is also made from the plums,
In Korea, maesil-cheong (매실청, 梅實淸, "plum syrup"), a syrup made by sugaring ripe plums, is used as a condiment and sugar substitute. It can be made by simply mixing plums and sugar together, and then leaving them for about 100 days.
Flower pancake
In Korea, hwajeon (화전, 花煎; "flower pancake") can be made with plum blossoms. Called maehwa-jeon (매화전, 梅花煎; "plum blossom pancake"), the pancake dish is usually sweet, with honey as an ingredient.
Liquor
Plum liquor, also known as plum wine, is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China. Umeshu (梅酒; "plum wine") is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums in shōchū (clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth. A similar liquor in Korea, called maesil-ju (매실주, 梅實酒; "plum wine"), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae hwa soo, Matchsoon, and Seoljungmae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole plum fruits contained in the bottle. In China, plum wine is called méijiǔ (梅酒).
In Taiwan, a popular 1950s innovation over the Japanese-style plum wine is the wumeijiu (烏梅酒; "smoked plum liquor"), which is made by mixing two types of plum liquor, meijiu (梅酒) made of P. mume and lijiu (李酒), made of Prunus salicina, and oolong tea liquor.[Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation - Department of Liquor 烏梅酒 ]
In Vietnam, ripe plums are macerated in sticky rice liquor. The resulting liquor is called rượu mơ. A brand selling plum liquor is Sơn Tinh.
Pickled and preserved plums
In Chinese cuisine, plums pickled with vinegar and salt are called suanmeizi (酸梅子; "sour plum fruits"), and have an intensely sour and salty flavour. They are generally made from unripe plum fruits. Huamei (話梅) are Chinese preserved plums and refer to Chinese plums pickled in sugar, salt, and herbs. There are two general varieties: a dried variety, and a wet (pickled) variety.
Umeboshi (梅干) are pickled and dried plums. They are a Japanese specialty. Pickled with coarse salt, they are quite salty and sour, and therefore eaten sparingly. They are often red in colour when purple shiso leaves are used. Plums used for making umeboshi are harvested in late May or early June, while they are ripe enough in yellow, and layered with much salt.
In Korea, there is 'maesil-jangajji' which is similar to 'umeboshi'. It is a common side dish in Korea.
A very similar variety of pickled plum, xí muội or ô mai is used in Vietnamese cuisine. The best fruit for this are from the forest around the Perfume Pagoda in Hà Tây Province.
Traditional medicine
Prunus mume is a common fruit in Asia and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Cultural significance
Plum blossoms have been well-loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere, beginning in China and later introduced to Vietnam, Korea, and Japan.
East Asia
Chinese
The plum blossom, which is known as the meihua (梅花), is one of the most beloved flowers in China and has been frequently depicted in Chinese art and poetry for centuries.[ Therefore, the plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope, as well as beauty, purity, and the transitoriness of life.]
Because it blossoms in the cold winter, the plum blossom is regarded as one of the "Three Friends of Winter", along with pine, and bamboo.
An example of the plum blossom's literary significance is found in the life and work of poet Lin Bu (林逋) of the Song dynasty (960–1279). For much of his later life, Lin Bu lived in quiet reclusion on a cottage by West Lake in Hangzhou, China.[China Travel Guide. "Gu Shan (Solitary Hill)". Retrieved 9 August 2011.][Red Pine. Poems of the Masters. Port Townsend, Copper Canyon Press, 2003, p. 453.]
As with the literary culture amongst the educated of the time, Lin Bu's poems were discussed in several Song dynasty era commentaries on poetry. Wang Junqing remarked after quoting the third and fourth line: " This is from Lin Hejing's Lin plum blossom poem. Yet these lines might just as well be applied to the flowering apricot, peach, or pear."—a comparison of the flowers with the plum blossom to which the renowned Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo (蘇東坡) replied, " Well, yes, they might. But I'm afraid the flowers of those other trees wouldn't presume to accept such praise."[ This is also the mythical origin of the floral fashion, meihua chuang][ (梅花妝; literally "plum blossom makeup"), that originated in the Southern Dynasties (420–589) and became popular amongst ladies in the Tang dynasty (618–907) and Song dynasty (960–1279) dynasties.][
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During the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the garden designer Ji Cheng wrote his definitive garden architecture monograph Yuanye and in it, he described the plum tree as the "beautiful woman of the forest and moon".[ The appreciation of nature at night plays an important role in Chinese gardens. For this reason, there are classical pavilions for the tradition of viewing plum blossoms by the moonlight.][ Int'l Plum Blossom Festival draws crowds in Nanjing. Retrieved 9 August 2011.]
The Moy Yat lineage of Wing Chun kung fu uses a red plum flower blossom as its symbol. The plum blossoms are featured on one of the four flowers that appear on mahjong tile sets, where mei (梅) is usually simply translated as "plum" in English.
It has been suggested that the Japanese practice of hanami may have originated from the China custom of enjoying poetry and wine underneath plum blossom trees while viewing their flowers, that was replicated by Japanese elites. This is supported by the fact that hanami started in urban areas rather than rural areas, that Japanese people initially admired plum blossoms like the Chinese rather than cherry blossoms, and that classic Japanese poetry does not associate Cherry blossom with merriness.
The National Flower of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was officially designated as the plum blossom ( Prunus Mei; ) by the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China on July 21, 1964.[ Government Information Office, Republic of China - National Flower . Retrieved 9 August 2011.] The plum blossom is the symbol for resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity during the harsh winter.[
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> National Flag, Anthem and Flower. Retrieved 9 August 2011.] It also serves as the logo of China Airlines, the national carrier of Taiwan (the Republic of China).
Korean
In Korea, the plum blossom is a symbol for spring.
Also, during Korean Empire period, the plum blossom became the imperial seal and royal official flower. Since ancient times, plum blossom has been filled with meaning and mystery. Plum blossoms bloom at the end of the winter, and because of this, they are called the herald of spring. They also symbolize perseverance because of how they can possibly bloom during the cold winter. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal. Plum flowers have five petals which are believed to carry 5 different blessings such as: wealth, health, virtue, peaceful and natural death.
Japanese
Plum blossoms are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku or renga, they are a kigo or season word for early spring. The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and are depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (Japanese playing cards).
Japanese tradition holds that the ume functions as a protective charm against evil, so the ume is traditionally planted in the northeast of the garden, the direction from which evil is believed to come. The eating of the pickled fruit for breakfast is also supposed to stave off misfortune.[Rowthorn, Chris and Florence, Mason. Lonely Planet: Kyoto. 2001, page 21.]
The tradition of hanami was originally performed with plum blossoms rather than Cherry blossom as is common today. The specific custom of viewing plum blossoms in Japan is now called umemi (梅見, plum-viewing).
Southeast Asia
Vietnamese
In Vietnam, due to the beauty of the tree and its flowers, the word mai is used to name girls. The largest hospital in Hanoi is named Bạch Mai (white plum blossom),
See also
External links
