Umeboshi in Japan, Chamoy in Mexico
Am a foodie first, and a sushi lover second. And I’m a lover of Mexican food first and Japanese food second, but the one thing that always amazes me is to find similarities amongst both cultures. If you speak Spanish as a native language, chances are that your Japanese pronunciation will be decent (as they use little changes in tone, as opposed to other language like Mandarin).
I am no longer even remotely fluent in Japanese, but I still can listen to Japanese and understand quite a bit). But there’s another thing that is incredibly similar amongst both cultures: they both have dried, pickled plums and apricots. In Japan, they’re called umeboshi. In Mexico, they’re called chamoy. And I’m addicted to both. The last time I could do a side-by-side comparison was the last time I was in Madrid, Spain (no less!).
So I am currently on the hunt for both, umeboshi sources and chamoy sources. Would you please be so kind as to let me know where I can find Mexican chamoy and Japanese umeboshi? Thanks, all!
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I can’t say for certain, but you might be able to find umeboshi at Fujiya on Clark and Venables. Izumi-Ya on Alderbridge (just west of No. 3) in Richmond might be a good bet too.
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I found Umeboshi in the T&T market in Metrotown some time ago. I couldn’t find Umeboshi paste, only the plums. Actually, I just used it yesterday to reduce my kid’s fever – I’m a big Umeboshi fan!
Both Fujiya and Izumiya have several brands of umeboshi… T&T (and its Osaka-ya branded stores) may still carry them at some locations too.
Try to pick one with no MSG if you have a choice, they don’t have a funny aftertaste. After eating my inlaws’ homemade ones for years I find the MSG a little odd in store-bought umeboshi.
I’ll try to secure a big crate of plums and make a bunch this summer; I’d be shocked if I can’t find the right kind of plums in BC, someone must sell them.
Hi, I am a Japanese national who just traveled to Mexico. I do agree, Mexico and Japan have many things that are similar. A Mexican ship got stranded near the coast of Japan over 400 years ago. Japanese villagers saved the Mexican crew, and these crew traveled back to Mexico next year in a ship Shogun Tokugawa had gifted them. Maybe he gave them a jar of umeboshi, too.