Eimi... a question came up....

[Len]

We had summer, Emma, it was that hot spell back in April ;-)  

On the suject of Japanese foods, what do pickled plums taste like?  And sweet lemons?  

And Erin, you are right about milk being used an place of a sweetner.  You haven't lived 'til you're forced to drink 'milky tea' or 'vomit in a cup' >.<

[Eimi]

Well, pickled plums are not pickled in the way we typically think.  Pickles in the west usually have some kind of vinegar involved in the process, but UMEBOSHI are made using the natural juices within the fruit and a whole lot of salt.  And it's not a true plum, either.  It's a pretty sour fruit that looks more like a green apricot.  So they come out tasting very sour and very salty.  Personally, I like the flavor in a lot of things, but many people find it too strong.  It goes good with rice and in OCHAZUKE, which is green tea over rice.