In India, plums become dominantly available in the market from the onset of monsoon. These are reddish purple and sometimes even bluish purple. The season of plum in India starts in May in full swing and continues from October to November. Because of its highly lucrative market, many different states of India such as Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab grow these fruits in abundance.
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Plums generally grow very well in subtropical weather conditions. India is a diverse land which means that there is always a sense of multicity in every type of fruit and vegetable that is grown in the country. Because of variations in soil and climatic conditions in every other region of India, the type of plums that are produced varies from state to state. Here is a look at some of the most delicious varieties of plum that one can find in India and the reason why they're called by a certain name.
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* Kala Amritsari
Kala Amritsari is a variety of plums that became famous from Amritsar, Punjab. These plums are famous for their distinctively large size and extremely sweet flavour. The skin of these plums is also relatively darker as compared to the other varieties of plums that one can find in India. Because of their sweetness, these plums are considered the best for making jams or sweet chutneys. With the onset of the monsoon, people like to make the very famous plum chutney of Punjab that is consumed with parathas. The flesh of these films is generally yellowish and the pulp is also quite juicy.
* Alucha
Alucha in Hindi simply translates into a juicy edible fruit. Although this variety of plums is not native to India, it is pervasively grown in Himachal Pradesh in the nearby hilly regions. Alucha plums are bright red and sometimes have maroonish hues. The flavours of these plums are generally somewhere between sweet and sour. Because of its contrasting flavours, it is generally used to make different types of chutneys and pickles. Alucha is also one of the most abundantly available plums in India because of its high cultivation.
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* Golden Japan
Golden Japan is a variety of films that was cultivated for the first time in Japan and became highly successful among the natives because of its taste and golden colour. These plums are generally medium-sized and are harvested in July, which is the peak of the monsoon. Many people like to consume them for their health benefits as well as the very sweet flavour. However, they are not overly sweet which makes them suitable for people who don't like having excessively sweet fruits. These plums sometimes even have small yellow dots on the surface. Although native to Japan and China, these plums are now grown in many parts of Himachal Pradesh in Uttarakhand as an exquisite variety of plums.
* Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa is another very famous variety of plums that are majorly used to make pickles, jams, and preservation. One will also find Santa Rosa plums being used to make different types of desserts. This species of plums was first cultivated in the United States of America as a result of cross-pollination. These plans are generally purple and have a very tender and juicy flash. The flavours are dominantly sweet with an undertone of tartness. States like Jammu and Kashmir as well as Himachal Pradesh are known to produce some of the best types of Santa. Rosa plums.
* Satluj Purple
Satluj purple as the name suggests has a dark purple skin that is extremely juicy and sweet. One of the most distinctive uses of these plums is to make fresh juices or smoothies with its help. What people do not know about this variety of plum is that it needs a Kala Amritsari plant for cross-pollination. What makes these plums so attractive is their distinctive purplish-blue colour that is recognisable from a considerable distance. These are grown in Punjab where Sutlej is the primary River. That is how these plants get their name.
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* Greengage
Greengage is a variety of plums that are majorly grown in the Middle Eastern countries of the world. Greengage simply means a greenish and roundish edible fruit. The plum gets its name for its round shape and green colour which is not very common in plums. This variety of plum is believed to have originated in Iran after which it travelled to the rest of the world. These plums are considered the best for confectionery purposes because of their versatile flavours. Many people describe these plums as having flavours, similar to ripe mangoes, dried apricot, and some citrusy notes. Mostly, the cultivation of greengage in India happens in Tamil Nadu from where it is transported to the rest of the country.