Japanese apricot

Japanese apricot usually refers to ume, the fruit of a flowering tree grown in East Asia. The small, round fruit is harvested while still firm and green for many preparations; fully ripe fruit becomes softer and yellowish. Its name distinguishes it from ordinary dessert apricots.

Fresh ume is sharply sour and is rarely eaten as a ripe, sweet table fruit. It is commonly salted, pickled, or processed into preserves and drinks. Forms include fresh fruit, salted pickled fruit, and dried or otherwise preserved products, whose textures and flavours differ substantially.