Whenever I think of plum, that Dr Seuss song enters my head, you know, the one that says ‘I could eat a goose moose burger, fifteen pickles and a purple plum!’ If you haven’t heard it, I’ll bet you’ll Google it now and regret that decision later. But one thing you won’t regret is trying your first plum!

If you’re into fruit, the humble plum is not one that you probably buy very often. The supermarket aisles are packed with terrible exotic fruits and the simpler things tend to get left behind. But don’t let that small punnet of plums escape your shopping cart next time you’re in the grocery store, because if you’ve ever wondered what does plum taste like, you’re about to make a happy discovery.

How Should A Plum Taste?

There is no right or wrong way for a plum to taste; well, there is if it has gone bad but while they are ready to eat, the taste may vary from fruit to fruit.

When plums are not quite ripe, they may have quite a tart taste and the texture is much firmer. If you have ever bitten into a slightly unripe plum, you’ll be familiar with that juicy crunch that comes with it. However, once the fruit begins to ripen, the flesh darkens and a much sweeter flavor comes through. At this point, the plum will be much softer and juicier which is why most people prefer them this way.

Is Plum Sweet Or Sour?

As a general rule, plums are considered to be a sweet fruit. While there is that tanginess when the fruit is not quite ripe, there is still a good degree of sweetness. The tart flavor typically comes from the skin of the plum, so if you do not like this aspect of it, you can simply peel it and eat only the flesh inner parts.

What Is The Sweetest Plum Variety?

It may surprise you to learn that there are quite a few different varieties of plum and while you would easily recognize the flavor of most of them as being plum, one is much sweeter than the rest. The mirabelle plum is thought to be the sweetest variety and is a small reddish fruit that is grown in Europe; particularly in France.

That said, the Moyer plum is another prized European variety that has a very sweet flavor. However, this type of plum is typically much larger than the Mirabelle.

What To Do With Mirabelle Plums

If you have decided to try Mirabelle plums, you might be wondering what on earth you are supposed to do with them. Of course, you can simply take a bite and enjoy the fruit as it is. After all, being so sweet, it makes a delicious and healthy snack or dessert.

But if you want to get a little more creative, you could try distilling the plums to make the classic French liquor known as eau de vie (be sure that you have the correct license to this though as distilling is not legal without one in most parts of the world.)

The Mirabelle plum is also a wonderful ingredient for making a sweet and sticky jam. This jam is widely used as part of a breakfast on toast, croissants, porridge, and anything else that takes your fancy.

Because the Mirabelle plum has such a sweet taste, it is often used in dessert recipes. One of the most popular ways to do this, particularly in the UK, is to add the plums to a crumble for a hearty and sweet after-dinner treat.

Should Plums Be Hard Or Soft?

Before they ripen, plums are quite hard but many experts would suggest purchasing you plums this way and allowing them to ripen at home. When selecting plums, you should test their weight as they will feel slightly heavier when they are not ripe.

Once the fruit has had a chance to ripen, its texture will become much softer and juicier. However, plums can degrade quite quickly so once you notice that they are ripe, it’s time to get eating.

How Many Plums Should I Eat A Day?

One of the great things about plums is that they are so versatile. They can be eaten raw but just as easily cooked. According to the BBC, one medium-sized plum counts for one of your five a day. Generally speaking, you could safely eat two plums each day without any adverse effects. That said, there is a rumour that plums might act as a laxative.

Is Plum A Laxative?

Prunes are dried plums and are something that your grandmother probably gave you as a child to make you ‘hurry up.’ But your nana wasn’t wrong and this isn’t just some old wives tale that has been passed down through the generations.

Prunes, and therefore plums, contain a natural laxative in the form of soluble fiber. Essentially, this will speed up the digestive system, making you more regular. Eating a healthy amount of plums or prunes each day will likely keep your system running like clockwork. However, it is possible to overindulge which could result in unpleasant symptoms like excess gas and diarrhea.

Can You Eat Plum Skin

The skin of a plum is just as healthy to eat as the flesh. However, as we have already discovered, it is the skin that contains the tart taste that some people find a little too much. Removing the skin will solve this issue and leave you with the sweet, juicy flesh.

How To Store Plums

Plums are usually purchased unripe and when you put them in the refrigerator, this can slow the ripening process right down. For this reason, you should always store plums at room temperature before they are ripe.

Should plums be refrigerated?

If you don’t think that you will finish all of your plums before they start to go past their best, you can put them into the fridge, covered with film, until you are ready to eat them. Once they are ripe, they will keep a little longer when chilled.

Summary

Plums are a common fruit but surprisingly, not everybody has had the pleasure of eating one. Next time you are at the grocery store, spare a thought for the often-overlooked plum and give it a try. The sweet taste and juicy texture are incredibly enjoyable and even if you don’t want to eat it on its own, plums can be served in many different ways.