Autumn fruits are just wonderful at the moment, so it’s time to look at one of our favourites: the plum.
Whether you love a plum tart or crumble, plum sauce, or plum jam, now’s the perfect time to enjoy them.
Did you know…?
- Alexander the Great brought stone fruit back to Europe after his ‘conquest’ of Persia.
- Cultivated plums are thought to have arrived in the UK with the Romans.
- The UK cultivated plum is thought to be a result of a natural cross between the cherry plum and the sloe. This probably took place in the Caucasus.
- There are more than 300 varieties of the domesticated plum in the UK.
- The cultivated plum, Prunus domestica, can be red, purple, green or golden.
- A hundred plum stones were found on the Mary Rose ship which sank in 1545 and raised in the 1980s. They included two types of cherry plums, greengages, bullaces and a Catalonia plum.
- Plums became very popular in Britain in the late 18th century.
Common plum varieties found in the UK
Victoria – Found by chance as a seedling in a garden in Alderton, Kent. It was originally known as Sharp’s Emperor and renamed Denyer’s Victoria after being sold to a nurseryman in Brixton in 1844.
Marjorie – First cultivated in Staffordshire and named after the cultivator’s wife.
Cherry – Also called myrobalan.It has fruits that can be red, yellow or black. It was often planted around orchards as a windbreak.
Bullace – Also known as bully-broom, bullie, bolas, and wild damson. This plant has become naturalised in the UK and it’s good for making wine and preserves.
Damson – It’s after Damascus where it was found growing pre-Christian era. The damson variety Prune is also called the Westmoreland, Shropshire, or Cheshire plum.
How to use them in cooking
Plum and apple cobbler – Add the crunch of Braeburn apples to juicy autumnal plums for a wonderful seasonal dish. Flavour the fruit with cinnamon and vanilla and add a touch of cinnamon to your cobbler topping. Serve with clotted cream.
Upside down cake – A slice of soft sponge cake made with buttermilk, soft brown sugar, and beautiful plums, and a piping hot cup of tea. What’s not to love about that?
Plum crumble – A delightful dessert that’s perfect for an autumnal Sunday lunch. Flavour your plums with orange and cinnamon and add a crunchy crumble topped with caster sugar, demerara sugar, and ground almonds.
Fig and plum chutney – Perfect with your cheese board. Add apple cider vinegar, onion, apple, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and light brown sugar to figs and plums for this cracking condiment. A good Christmas present, too.
Plum clafoutis – A classic French pudding with a light batter poured over delicious plums placed into foaming hot butter. Add some vanilla and almonds for added flavour.
Pork belly with ginger and plums – Use tart plums in this Chinese-inspired dish also featuring slow cooked pork belly, ginger, garlic, honey, five spice, star anise, rice wine vinegar, spring onions, soy sauce, coriander, and a little soft brown sugar.
Plum brandy – Steep the plums in brandy and add caster sugar, star anise, and half a cinnamon stick to create a special homemade drink. Another excellent gift idea.
Roasted duck breast with plum sauce – A fantastic flavour combination! Make your sauce with plums, a shallot, olive oil, red wine, beef stock, and demerara sugar.
Plum pie – Flavour this classic British dessert pie with cloves and add golden caster sugar. Make your shortcrust pastry crumbly and serve with warm custard.
Take a look at the sort of dishes we create with fruit like plums on our ‘Dine’ page.
