One thing you will notice at the supermarkets and at the traditional markets are the bags and bags of green plums called maesil for sale. They are relatively cheap and you can get a large bag of them for about ten dollars or less. Maesil are about the size of walnut seed and are a brilliant olive green color. The skin is pretty turgid and if you were to bite into it, you would get a very, very, very sour taste. It's not recommended that you eat them raw.

So what do Koreans do with all of these green plums they are buying?

Well, they do one of several things. They could take the plums and steep them in soju to make green plum soju. The flavor of the soju is bright and acidic. This drink is called maesil ju and it is a common drink now in Korea, but the home version always tastes best.

You can pickle the green plums to make a tart and sweet side dish or add red chili paste to add some spice. In the city of Jeonju this is very popular to do and pickled green plums go great with rice and other side dishes.

Finally, Koreans like to make an extract or a syrup from the green plums that they can use as an ingredient in sauces and dressings and to make hot tea.

The extract or called aekiss is my favorite way of enjoying the green plums, because it is so versatile. It is often my secret ingredient in my food and when my non-Korean guests ask me to explain it, they just look astonished.

You can make it at home. It just takes time. To do this you would need large jar large enough to hold all your green plums and sugar. Basically, you clean all the plums and dry them out. Then you layer plums and sugar until you fill the whole jar with plums and sugar making sure no air is left on the top. Then you seal the jar and a few weeks later you'll have a fermented syrup that is tart and sweet.

This maesil aekiss or green plum extract can be used in various ways. I like to add a spoonful to hot water to making a soothing tea. When I am making my bibimbap sauce or my bibim noodle sauce, I like to add a spoonful to add a fragrant aroma and sweetness. The extract works well mixed with vinegar and sesame oil to make a salad dressing as well. It is also good if you mix some of the extract with mustard, soy sauce and other ingredients to make a dip for beef. Oh, the extract works in cocktails as well. Commonly, it is made into a digestive drink and you would mix it with water and ice and have it after a meal.

The good thing is that the plums are actually healthy for you. It is believed the plums are very good in helping digestion and especially good for the lower intestines. The plums are high in citric acid so it is good to help the body's immune and healing system.

Plums are a sign of summer in Korea and it is considered to be an omen of plenty and beauty. The flowering plum trees in Korea can often be seen in famous paintings.