Plum

Origin / Growing regions

The plum is thought to have originated in the northern Caucasus and the Altai mountain range in Siberia, where numerous wild plants are still found today. Experts presume that the domestic plum is a natural cross between the sloe and the cherry plum. It was the Romans who brought the domesticated plum to Germany and France, where the typical growing areas evolved during the 18th and 19th centuries. Plums are found all over the world today. The most important growing regions in Germany are Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Description

The plum belongs to the genus Prunus and is a member of the Rosaceae family. The word “plum” is a generic term for a large number of varieties, of which some have very different characteristics. That is why the distinction is made between “plums” and what are known in German-speaking countries as “Zwetschen“ or “Zwetschgen”. Yet is is not always possible to classify a given variety definitely as belonging to one group, as many of them are hybrid forms.

Plum

Fruit

The fruits differ considerably in size, shape and color – depending on the variety. Plums are round to oval in shape and have a prominent seam and a roundish pit. Their soft flesh ranges in color from greenish-yellow to golden yellow. “Zwetchgen” have an elongated oval shape with a pointed tip and a less prominent longitudinal seam. Their flesh is greenish-yellow, aromatic and easily separated from the pit in most cases.

Flavour

Ripe plums have a juicy flavour and contain very little fructose in spite of their sweetness. They are relatively sour when cooked. Plums are often processed into plum puree or plum compote or baked in cakes.

Distinctive features

As natural laxatives, dried plums are standard items in household medicine cabinets.