Handmade salt plums

Within Kishu which is famous for plum production, Tanabe City, together with Minabe town, are large plum production areas. The area is described as ”seeming to have 100,000 plum trees which smell for 1000 miles.” During the blooming season, many people gather to enjoy gazing at the flowers.

”Nakamichi Farm” produces plums in Tanabe city, and not only cultivates plums but also manufactures salt pluThe plums used for salt plums are of course the highest quality Nanko-ume, produced at ”Nakamichi Farm”.

Nankou-ume has a great taste, and the texture is also very good, but there is a slight flaw. The fruit is so soft, it cannot be manufactured by machines. Therefore, salt plums from Nakamichi Farm is all handmade. As a result, they cannot be mass produced, but extra care is given to the salt plums as they make each one by hand.

The appetizing taste of “grilled plums”

Another popular product at ”Nakamichi Farm” is the grilled plum.
By using charcoal, another specialty of Kishu, the plums are grilled slowly and thoroughly, bringing out the matured and ripened taste.
The brown grilled plum has the perfect mix of acidity, sweetness and roasted aroma.
The collaboration of Nanko-ume and charcoal is possible only in Kishu.

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A plum utopia during the blossom season

Whether it is salt plums or plum wine, Kisha Nanko-ume makes the best Japanese plum products. Nanko-ume originated in Minabe city where Gekkou Farm is located. Plum cultivation has been prosperous in the area for a very long time. During the Meiji era, larger than average sized plums were discovered, which came to be known as Nanko-ume.

At Gekkou Farm in Minabe city, they have been making only plums for 85 years.
The 2.8 hectares plum orchard located on the top of a hill is covered with white flowers every February. The flowers look down over the ocean, and the aroma of blooming plum blossoms from 600 plum trees creates a plum utopia.

Protecting the ecosystem

The orchard is placed on the hill overlooking the ocean not just for scenic reasons. By building the orchard on a hill, it allows water to drain, and the air is drier, making the trees healthier.

Because of their belief that ”by maintaining the ecosystem, the trees will be protected from pests and disease”, Gekkou Farm does not use weed killers either. If a good balance is maintained between the soil and grass, and the insects and plum trees, healthy plums grow with minimal agricultural chemicals. At Gekkou Farm, thick and soft Nanko-ume are made within the cycle of nature.

The post Minabe city, the Birthplace of Nanko-ume “Gekkou Farm” first appeared on NIHONMONO.