How to Make Homemade Plum Wine (Soaking Method)

I remember, whether it was Grandma's or Mom's house, there were always rows of dusty glass jars sitting in a corner.

The lids were covered in grime, and the contents inside were dark and mysterious.

The elders treated these jars as family heirlooms, cherishing them deeply.

One of these precious items was related to plums.

Plums are a fruit tree unique to Asia. Harvested once a year from steep mountain slopes, the process is labor-intensive, involving either pole-beating or hand-picking.

The plum harvest season typically falls between March and May, around the Qingming Festival.

This is the perfect time to start making plum-related dishes. Plums are highly nutritious.

The Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) records that plums have the functions of regulating the intestines and relieving fatigue

How to Make Homemade Plum Wine (Soaking Method)

There are two primary methods for making homemade plum wine: 
one involves natural fermentation using sugar, which is more challenging; 
the other is a simple soaking method that is perfect for beginners. 
Today, we'll focus on the soaking method.

Homemade Rock Sugar Plum Wine   Ingredients:

• Green plums or yellow plums: 600 grams
• Alcohol (e.g., white liquor, shochu, whiskey): 600 ml
• Sugar: 300-450 grams
  Suggested ratio: plums: alcohol: sugar = 1:1:0.5-0.7

Selecting Plums:

For making plum wine, it's recommended to use plums that are 70-80% ripe after the Qingming Festival, as they have a delicate fruity aroma.

Selecting Sugars:

Common sweeteners used in plum wine making include rock sugar, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and honey.
Different sweeteners can yield varying flavors in the final product.
◎ Plum wine with dark brown sugar → unique caramel aroma
◎ Plum wine with rock sugar → smooth texture, clear appearance (most recommended)🏆
◎ Plum wine with light brown sugar → light and fragrant flavor, dissolves quickly

Base Spirit Selection:

It's recommended to choose a base spirit with an alcohol content of 15% to 40%.

You can experiment with different types of spirits based on your preference.

Common choices include whiskey, gin, sake, vodka, soju, sorghum liquor, and rice wine, etc.

It's advisable to avoid base spirits with strong fruit flavors as they can lead to a more complex and less defined taste in the final product.

Tools Needed:

• Glass jar
• Toothpicks (for removing stems)
• Paper towels
• Alcohol
• Plastic bottles (not recommended)

For the plum wine making process, please click >> Plum Wine Making Method.