Table of Contents
How do plums and plums differ from each other?
Plums (Prunus domestica) are larger and rounder than plums (Prunus domestica subsp. domestica), which tend to be smaller and oblong-oval. Both plants come from the rose family and are a hybrid of wild cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). The plum is a subspecies of plum.
Plums are round to slightly ovate in shape and have an imprinted furrow. The fruit tastes sweet and juicy. Their consistency is soft and fluffy, but often difficult to remove from the inner stone. In terms of colour, there are plums in blue, red, purple and black. Green and yellow varieties are also available.
plumsare darker and bluish-violet in color. They are smaller than plums and taper at the ends, giving the oval shape. The yellow flesh is firmer and slightly less juicy than plums and has a sweet and sour taste. The meat can also be easily separated from the core.
ingredients and nutritional values
| plums | plums | |
| calories | 45 | 43 |
| fat | 0,2 g | 0,2 g |
| carbohydrates | 10 g | 9 g |
| – of which sugars | 10g | 8,8 g |
| Ballststoffe | 1 g | 2 g |
| Protein | 0,6 g | 1 g |
| Vitamin C | 5 mg | 4 mg |
| Magnesium | 7 mg | 8 mg |
| Potassium | 161 mg | 240 mg |
| calcium | 8 mg | 13 mg |
| Phosphor | 16 mg | 23 mg |
The nutritional values of plums and damsons are not particularly great. Similar to berries, they are low in calories and virtually fat-free. They both contain vitamin C for the immune system, magnesium and plenty of potassium for e.g. B. the nervous system, the transmission of stimuli and the regulation of the water balance, as well as calcium and phosphorus for bones and teeth.
Health benefits of plums
- Protect cells: Blue and red fruits are particularly rich in flavonoids . The plant-based flower pigments act like antioxidants by protecting body cells from free radicals that cause disease.
- Good for digestion: Large amounts of fresh plums or a smaller portion of prunes improve digestion and have a natural laxative effect. The dietary fibers pectin and cellulose swell up significantly in the gastrointestinal tract, which puts pressure on the intestinal walls and stimulates digestion. Prunes are particularly suitable. Soak them in water overnight and drink them in the morning, including the soaking water. Plum juice also has a laxative effect. It is assumed that the ingredients sorbitol, oxalic acid and malic acid are responsible for this.
- Regulate the water balance: Plums and damsons contain a lot of potassium, which has a positive effect on the fluid balance in the body. The body also needs potassium for the transmission of nerve impulses and for muscle contractions, as well as for heart function and the regulation of blood pressure.
The most important plum varieties
- Cultivated plum
The cultivated plum (Prunus domestica L.) is the classic round and blue-red colored plum that can be bought in large quantities in the supermarket and at the weekly market. It is easily recognizable by its plump shape and deep furrow . Their flesh is yellowish-red and tastes sweet . In Germany it grows mainly in Baden-Württemberg and in Rhineland-Palatinate. The cultivated plum tastes great on its own, in yoghurt or quark, as plum jam or as chutney in spicy dishes. They also add a sweet taste to sauces. - Mirabelle
Mirabelle (Prunus domestica subsp. sytianca) is also known as the yellow plum and is often confused with the cherry plum. Mirabelles are smaller than the cultivated plum and have a golden skin. The pulp is firm, aromatic and difficult to separate from the core . The taste ranges from sweet to sweet and sour . Mirabelles are often available in large supermarkets and on the market. In Germany they are mainly grown in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate. They are suitable for making cakes, compotes, fruit brandies and liqueurs. But they can also be eaten pure. - Noble plum (Prunus domestica subsp. italica)
The noble plum (Prunus domestica subsp. italica), also called Greengage , is slightly smaller than the cultivated plum. Their shell is yellow-green to dark green and can have a reddish tinge . The flesh is whitish to light green, tastes slightly sweet and sour, is very juicy and refreshing . Thanks to their intense aroma, greengages are suitable for jam, cakes, schnapps and syrup. Noble plums also grow in southern Germany. - The cibarte
(Prunus domestica subsp. prisca) is a subspecies of the plum. It has a diameter of just two to three centimeters and is spherically round . They are available in the colors blue, black, blue-red, green-yellow and yellow-reddish . The core is difficult to remove from the pulp. Zibarten are very tannic and soft. Their taste is more reminiscent of sloes than plums. They are therefore mainly used in fruit distilleries. Zibarten are grown in southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. - Cherry plum
The cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a spherical fruit two to three centimeters in diameter . The fruits are already available in June and July. You can recognize them by their yellow to cherry red or blue-violet color. The flesh is white to pale pink, has a strong scent, is difficult to separate from the stone and sometimes tastes sour , occasionally sweet and aromatic, but sometimes also watery and bland. Cherry plums originally come from Asia Minor to Central Asia, but are also grown in Germany.
Buy and store plums properly
Purchasing
You can tell fresh, ripe fruit when the skin of the fruit is taut and gives way under slight pressure. The fruits are covered with a whitish layer that protects the fruit from drying out. You should only wash them off just before eating.
Storage
You can store plums and damsons in the fridge for up to a week. To do this, wrap the fruit in damp cloths and place them in a jar that is closed with a lid. Deep-frozen and seedless, plums and damsons keep for up to a year.
Tips for preparing and processing plums
Plums tolerate heat much better than other fruits. It even ensures that the sweetness and flavors really come into their own. Plums can be boiled, baked, stewed, stuffed with meat, eaten raw and combined with other varieties.
These foods go well with plums
Fruity sauces for meat
Sauces seasoned with plum jam go well with game and heavy, highly flavored meat dishes.
Too hot and spicy as a
chutney Chutney is the savory version of jam. It rounds off spicy dishes with garlic, chili and ginger or gives Christmas dishes a slightly sweet note.
Plum jam and jam
Plums and many other varieties are suitable for cooking jam. This is particularly easy to do in the oven (p. 4)
In cakes and pastries
Plums taste good in yeast dough, as a crumble with crumbles, in Kaiserschmarrn or puff pastry.
