In the Meiji period when synthesized dyes were introduced, time-consuming safflower dyes made from Ubai were phased out, causing the price of Ubai to nosedive.
明治時代に入り合成染料が伝来すると、烏梅を用いた手間のかかる紅花染めは徐々に行われなくなり、烏梅の価格は暴落した。