This week on The Onigiri Chronicles, Noriko and Rachael discuss:

-What ume are and what they are used in.

-Noriko makes a childhood confession (one of Rachael’s favorite stories yet)—“the umeboshi incident.”

-How umeboshi are made.

-How ume syrup is made and what to use it for.

-Ume cha (ume tea) as a health remedy.

-How umeboshi is used in cooking.

-How the holy trinity of umeboshi, shiso, and sesame go with so many things.

-Rachael’s umeboshi oni (monster)

-The company we mentioned who sells fresh ume and ume syrup is @maesilhood on

Instagram (https://instagram.com/maesilhood?igshid=lbmfe981zgtm ) and their website is: https://www.maesilhood.com

-Rachael’s umeboshi post: https://www.lafujimama.com/umeboshi-fall-fruit-of-summer-labor/

-IGTV umeboshi video: https://www.instagram.com/tv/B7eApmLnbC1/?igshid=udoqwt64dssl