Hot Tips about Korean Food Recipes : Plum Extract

What is Plum Extract?

The plum extract made from green plums is one of the popular ingredients in South Korea. The plums get marinated with sugar for a few months and it results in the thick and flavorful extract. 

It is used widely in many cooking recipes. Adding just a few drops certainly makes lots of Korean dishes much more delicious and flavorful.

The plum extract is known to be polyphenol-enriched food with pluripotent health benefits on muscles. Plum itself has plenty of vitamin A and E as well as high fatty-acid content that helps to seal cracks in the skin barrier and maintain moisture.

What do you use Plum Extract for?

You can add plum extract for marinating meats to reduce meaty odor and greasy taste when it's cooked. It also softens the meat while being marinated. The sweet taste of plum extract helps reduce the sugar in their recipes. It is also good for various dipping sauces or salad dressings with its sweet and sour tastes. 

The plum extract can also use it as a syrup for plum tea which is known to be good for stomachache and indigestion in South Korea. It's very simple to make and tasty to get up the appetite before or after the meals. Some Korean restaurants serve hot or cold plum tea after the meal to freshen the mouth.

Also, you can add a few tablespoons of plum extract when you make fried rice such as Kimchi fried rice, Omurice(Omelet over rice), Shrimp fried rice, etc. at the end of mixing all the ingredients.

Which Plum Extract is popular in Korea?

There are a wide variety of plum extract products in Korea but it's hard to find in overseas markets. Try plum extract from Bakseon, Ottugi, or Chungjeonone which have been had good reputations in the market for years.

Some Korean people make it by themselves at home. It's not that difficult to make it at all, however, it's not easy to get good quality green plums and store them for months after making it.

Any special tips?

Plum extract can last about one year at its best quality if it's refrigerated.