Did you know that plums come in a range of colours and varieties? Plums are sweet, firm, and juicy, and can be eaten raw or in desserts. They, like cherries and peaches, are a good source of vitamins and antioxidants. You're probably only familiar with one sort of plum: the purple, oval fruit with a pit in the centre. But here's a fun fact: plums come in over 20 different types, each with its own colour, shape, and flavour. Continue reading to learn about some of the many delicious and wholesome forms of plums.
Japanese Plum
Prunus Salicina, often known as Japanese plums, are spherical and reach a diameter of around 2 inches. Their skin colour varies from yellow to red to blue and purple to black. Japanese plums, particularly black plums, are perfect for sweets due to their deep purple colour that spreads well throughout any meal. Many Japanese plum trees do not bear fruit on their own. To bear fruit, they must be planted and pollinated by another plum tree of a different kind.
1. Blood Plum (Satsuma)
Satsuma plums are a type of medium to small red spherical plum native to Japan. This plum variety's maroon skins are hard and tough, with a sour flavour. However, the rich crimson flesh is quite sweet, which balances out the bitter skin. They are not related to the citrus fruit, despite being named a satsuma plum. The colloquial term blood plum relates to the skin and flesh's vivid crimson colour. Satsuma plums are a semi-clingstone type, which means the flesh only partially adheres to the stone. Japanese plums are greater in size than European red plums.
2. Black Beauty
The black beauty is distinguished by its beautiful purple hue and extremely juicy, gently sweet flavour. It certainly lives true to its moniker. These plums range in size from medium to giant. Their flesh is solid but incredibly juicy, making them perfect for eating raw. However, due to their hardness, they are regarded as one of the greatest plums for tarts and other baked dishes.
3. Black Ruby
The 'Black Ruby' cultivar is one of the most popular varieties of black Japanese plums. The skin of this luscious plum is reddish-black and surrounds the yellow flesh. This round plum is one of the few mid-summer sweet plum cultivars. One of the reasons this plum is popular for eating fresh is because it is a freestone variety. You can bite into the sweet, flavorful meat, and the stone simply falls away. Clingstone cultivars make up the majority of Japanese black plums.
European Plum
The European or Italian plum, commonly known as Prunus Domestica, is an oval-shaped dry plum. This plum was frequently labelled as "fresh prunes" in marketplaces. This plum species was first grown in Syria, and afterwards in Rome.
1. Moyer Plums
Moyer plums are a widespread purple plum variety and one of the most popular. These plums have a dark burgundy to purple exterior and a luscious yellow-orange to amber flesh. This plum type is regarded as one of the best European plums due to its form and flavour. Moyer plums are huge, oval-shaped plums with high sugar content. This plum is wonderfully fresh and is frequently dried to make sweet prunes.
2. Greengage
When ripe, the greengage plum is one of the rare green plum kinds. The plums are small and spherical, with a honey-sweet flavour. The delicious flesh is firm, as is typical of many European plums. The green skin of the greengage plum might show streaks of crimson flushing or yellow depending on the cultivar. Greengage plums are widely regarded as the best plums for use in desserts.
3. Mirabelle
Mirabelle plums, sometimes known as cherry plums, are tiny, sweet, and syrupy. They're an excellent choice for baking, jams, jellies, and fruit brandy. Mirabelles are so uncommon that they are virtually entirely farmed in France. You can cultivate the tree yourself, but it isn't a true Mirabelle unless it is grown in France.