Description

In this two part hands-on workshop (separated by 1 month), you will learn to make umeboshi, traditionally cured Japanese pickled plums!

Japanese Friendship Garden
Balboa Park
San Diego, California

Two Dates:

• Part 1: Saturday, May 30, 2026 11:00am to 12:30 pm

• Part 2: Saturday, July 11, 2026 11:00am to 12:30 pm

Pricing

• $149 (Both parts purchased together)

• $89 (a la carte price for each part)

Umeboshi (梅干) is salted Japanese pickled plums. Packed with umami, saltiness, and subtle floral aromas, these little morsels pack a mighty flavorful punch!

In Part 1, we will start with fresh ume (plums) and prepare the jar for a month-long curing.

In Part 2, we will separate the plums from the liquid (umeshu), dry them for a few days before jarring them up again for a longer cure.

Includes your own take-home jar of umeboshi (ready next year) as well as samples of finished umeboshi.

NOTE: Admission to the Friendship Garden must be purchased in order to take the class ($15 for non-members, free for members). Admission is good all day, so plan to spend the afternoon exploring the gardens after the workshops.  Or tour Balboa Park and return to visit the beautiful gardens later in the day (open until 6pm, last entry at 5pm)!

Join Austin Durant, author and founder of Fermenters Club as he takes you into the wild world of fermentation!

• • • Learn: We will talk about the history of miso, its many different forms, and then make a large batch using various legumes.
    • Taste: You’ll get to taste various misos to understand the fermentation process.
    • Do: You’ll get to pack a mason jar full of miso to take home (but you’ll have to wait a year to eat it)!
    • Eat: Then we’ll enjoy one of the most popular miso dishes– homemade miso soup!

About JFGM

The mission of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum (JFGM) is to develop a traditional Japanese garden as a center to educate, engage, and inspire people of diverse backgrounds about Japanese culture and community legacy.

JFGM is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an accredited museum that offers a variety of educational programs, exhibits, and cultural festivals to enhance appreciation and understanding of Japanese culture. Over 330,000 visitors from the United States and internationally attend the garden annually. JFGM opened to the public in 1991 and is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. The garden is inspired from centuries-old Japanese design and techniques that showcase JFGM’s living exhibition comprised of plants and florae native to Japan and San Diego.