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| There are thousands of varieties of plum, all differing in size, shape, colour and flavour. These members of the rose family originate from three main types - European, Japanese and Western Asian. |
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 The skins can vary from blue-black to purple, red, green and yellow. They have a long season, and one variety or another is available almost all year round. All plums have smooth skins with a bloom and juicy flesh with plenty of acidity.
Dessert plums can be eaten on their own; they are usually larger than cooking plums (up to 10cm/4in long) and are sweet and very juicy. Cooking plums are drier, with tart flesh that is ideal for pies, flans and cakes. |
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History and lore
Plums (Prunus domestica) date back in writing to 479 B.C. in the writings and songs of Confucius which include a listing of popular foods of Chinese culture. In 65 B.C., Pompey the Great introduced the plum to the orchards of Rome, and Alexander the Great eventually brought them to the Mediterranean regions. Early American colonists found wild plums growing along the east coast, but today the common European plum has replaced the native wild plum in popularity and as a commercial crop. The plum tree plays a significant role in Chinese mythology and is associated with great age and wisdom. Blossoms of the plum tree are carved on jade to signify resurrection. Plums are now the second most cultivated fruit in the world, second only to apples. |
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 Wild plums originated in Asia at least 2,000 years ago. They were first cultivated by the Assyrians, then adopted by the Romans, who hybridized them with great enthusiasm; the historian Pliny wrote of the huge numbers of plum cross-breeds available. The Crusaders brought plums to Europe, where they became highly prized. Nowadays they are grown in almost all temperate countries. |
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The Prune Connection
Plums are known as prunes in France, and earlier times, it is believed that both plum and prune meant the fresh fruit. Of course, in modern times, the prune is the dried version of the plum. Most prunes are made from the La Petite d'Agen variety of plum brought from France in 1856 by French horticulturist Louis Pellier. A new movement by the prune industry is to market prunes as plum raisins or dried plums in hopes the new term will appeal more to younger people. |
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