Tonic Drinks & Waters
Homemade Green Plum Wine (Qing Mei Jiu)
traditionally used both internally and as a topical rub to ease nerve pain and support digestion
In short: Homemade Green Plum Wine (Qing Mei Jiu) is a tonic drinks & water that traditionally used both internally and as a topical rub to ease nerve pain and support digestion. It is most often made for digestive wellness, bone & joint wellness. Key ingredients: rock sugar.
Why people make this wine
Fresh green plums are a seasonal ingredient, available in spring at Asian grocers and Chinese herb shops. The process is simple: plums, sugar, rice wine, and patience. Traditional Chinese food therapy considers green plum wine a gentle tonic for the digestive system, associated with supporting the body’s absorption of nutrients and bolstering immunity. Beyond drinking it, the same wine is applied externally as a topical rub for the relief of sciatica — massaged into the affected area until the skin feels gently warm. Commercially made Japanese umeshu (such as Choya) can be used as a ready-made substitute if fresh green plums are out of season.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Rice wine / alcohol: This recipe contains alcohol. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the NHS recommends not drinking alcohol; leave it out or choose another recipe. Source: NHS — Alcohol in pregnancy
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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