''Maesil-ju'' (), also called plum wine, plum liquor, or plum liqueur, is an

alcoholic drink An alcoholic beverage (also called an alcoholic drink, adult beverage, or a drink) is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol that acts as a drug and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar. The c ...

infused with ''

maesil ''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, long ...

'' (plums).The exact origins of ''Maesil-ju'' are unknown, but it is thought to date back to the

Goryeo Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificati ...

Dynasty (918-1392).

Ingredients

''Maesil-ju'' is made with ''

'' (; "plums"), preferably ripe ''

hwangmae ''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, lon ...

'' (; "yellow plums"), which are yellowish in color, fragrant and firm. Unripe ''

cheongmae ''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, lon ...

'' (; "green plums")—firmer and less fragrant—can also be used. Bruised or over-ripened plums may make the wine cloudy. Damaged fruits should be avoided, as direct contact of plum seeds with alcohol may produce a small amount of

prussic acid Hydrogen cyanide, sometimes called prussic acid, is a chemical compound with the formula HCN and structure . It is a colorless, extremely poisonous, and flammable liquid that boils slightly above room temperature, at . HCN is produced on an in ...

, due to the amygdalin in plum seeds. However, toxicity vanishes after a year of maturation. Ripe plums have much lower amygdalin content. Typically, of '' soju'' (of 20% ABV) and of sugar is used per of plums. Sugar can be substituted with slightly more honey, and '' soju'' of 20% ABV can be substituted by ''soju'' (or any other unflavored spirit) of 30% ABV and of water.

Preparation

Plums are washed in cold water and dried on a tray for a day. Dried plums and '' soju'' are added to a sterilized glass or earthenware jug and infused for about 100 days. The fruits are then removed by sieving, and sugar is added to the plum wine. The wine can be consumed immediately, but three to six months of maturation will greatly enrich the wine's flavour.

Commerce

Popular ''maesil-ju'' products include ''

Mae hwa soo Mae is an American rock band that formed in Norfolk, Virginia in 2001. The band's name is an acronym for "Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience", based on a course taken by drummer Jacob Marshall while a student at Old Dominion University. History ...

'', '' Matchsoon'', and '' Seoljungmae''.

References

Fruit liqueurs Korean alcoholic drinks Prunus {{Korea-cuisine-stub

Ingredients

Preparation

Commerce

See also

References