"Maesil Ju" Plum Wine /梅酒/매실주

In Korea, summer is the best season for making the plum wine.
在韩国，炎炎夏热又是釀梅酒的好季节。。。

Korea has a number of traditional fruit wines, produced by combining fruits or berries with alcohol. Podoju (포도주, 葡萄酒) is made from rice wine that is mixed with grapes. The most popular fruit wines are made from maesil plums (such wine called maesilju, mae hwa su, mae chui soon, or Seol Joong Mae), bokbunja (복분자, Korean black raspberries, Rubus coreanus Miquel, 15% alcohol)

Plum liquor, also known as "plum wine", is popular in both Japan and Korea, and is also produced in China. In China, plum wine is called meijiu (梅酒).
Umeshu (梅酒^?) is a Japanese alcoholic drink made by steeping green plums in shōchū (燒酎; clear liquor). It is sweet and smooth.

A similar liquor in Korea, called maesil ju (매실주), is marketed under various brand names, including Mae Hwa Su, Mae Chui Soon, and Seol Joong Mae. Both the Japanese and Korean varieties of plum liquor are available with whole Prunus mume fruits contained in the bottle.

Fruit wines are fermented alcoholic beverages made from a variety of base ingredients (other than grapes); they may also have additional flavors taken from fruits, flowers, and herbs.
Fruit wines have traditionally been popular with home winemakers and in areas with cool climates.
Fruit wines are usually referred to by their main ingredient (e.g., plum wine or elderberry wine) because the usual definition of wine states that it is made from fermented grape juice.

韩国酒文化泛指韩国的酿酒、饮酒的文化。

韩国的酒文化历史渊久，早在朝鲜三国时期，韩半岛就已经开始酿酒。朝鲜三国中的百济还将酿酒技术传播到了日本。^]
韩国的酿酒技术在高丽时期得到进一步的发展，酒的品种也得到增加。在这一时期蒸馏酒从阿拉伯地区经中国元朝传入韩半岛。
朝鲜王朝时期是韩国酒文化最为发展的时期，酿酒技术也达到了很高的标准。这一时期，韩国酒的品种已经超过300多种。由于大量的粮食被用来酿造烧酒，曾有人向朝鲜宫廷提议禁止生产蒸馏酒以保证国家的粮食供给。
朝鲜日治时期，由于酿酒许可证的使用使大量小型酿酒作坊被禁止生产。酿酒生产商的集中使许多独特的酿酒工艺消失，同时也使酿酒开始产业化。在这一时期，西方洋酒包括啤酒和威士忌传入韩半岛。
韩国光复后，对韩国原有酒文化进行了保护性的挖掘。1980年以来，开始取消了对酿酒生产的一些限制，以促进韩国酒文化的发展。
饮酒的礼仪是韩国餐桌礼仪中的重要部分。韩国人喝酒，要相互倒酒以表示友谊和尊重。为别人斟酒，一定要用右手拿瓶，左手要扶着右手，以示尊重。用左手斟酒被认为是不礼貌的。接受者也要双手捧杯，以示谢意。与中国人不断地为客人续酒有很大的不同，韩国人喝酒不喜欢续酒，而喜欢一杯喝完再倒。
晚辈与长辈喝酒时，晚辈要先向长辈倒酒。在长辈先喝酒后，才能饮酒。饮酒时不能面对着长辈而且要盖住嘴。不同辈份的人面对面喝酒被认为是不礼貌的。
另外客人不应该拒绝主人敬的第一杯酒。在大多数的正规场合，客人回拒长辈或主人的敬酒要回拒两次。如果对方第三次又敬酒，客人就应该最终接受。如果客人连续三次回拒，主人就不会再敬酒了。
果酒]

• 葡萄酒：用葡萄酿造的酒精饮料
• 覆盆子酒：用覆盆子酿造的酒精饮料
• 青梅酒：用青梅酿造的酒精饮料
• 松果酒：用松果酿造的酒精饮料
• 石榴酒：用石榴酿造的酒精饮料
• (sources : wikipedia)

Prunus mume is an Asian tree species classified in the Armeniaca section of the genus Prunus. Its common names include Chinese plum and Japanese apricot. The flower is usually called plum blossom. This distinct tree species is related to both the plum and apricot trees. Although generally referred to as a plum in English, it is more closely related to the apricot.
The fruit of the tree is used in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cooking in juices, as a flavouring for alcohol, as a pickle and in sauces. It is also used in traditional medicine.
The tree's flowering in late winter and early spring is highly regarded as a seasonal symbol


核果近球形，有沟，直径约1～3厘米，密被短柔毛，味酸，绿色，4～6月果熟时多变为黄色或黄绿色亦有品种为红色和绿色等；可食用，可用来做梅干、梅酱、话梅、酸梅汤、梅酒等，亦可入药。梅花酒在日本和韩国广受欢迎。其味甘甜，有顺气的功能，是优良的果酒。话梅在中国是很受欢迎的食品。话梅是将梅子与糖、盐、甘草在一起腌制后晒干而成的。话梅还可以用来做成话梅糖等食品。
(source:wikipwdia)

Wash and drain the plums. Place the plums in a container and pour in the Korean soju...
将梅子洗干净，沥干。把梅子放入玻璃瓶内，倒入韩式烧酒。。。

Ingredients:
Chinese plum 5 kg
Korean Soju ( 25%, 30%) 10 L


Method:
1. Wash and drain the Chinese plum. Place the plums in a glass container, pour in the Korean Soju. Keep it  for at least 3 months or more, the longer the better.

2. After 3 months or more, remove the plums and you may drink it...

材料：
梅 (매실)    5 kg
烧酒 （소주，25%，30% )  10 Ｌ

做法：
1.  将梅洗干净，濾乾水份，放入玻璃容器里，将瓶盖盖好，密封 3 个月以上
2.  3个月后，将梅从玻璃容器里取出，只留下梅酒

（p/s ： 将梅洗干净后，用牙签在果实上插洞，或用刀将果实切片后，才放入玻璃容器里，釀出来的梅酒，味道会更好 ）