A sweet juicy plum is a wonderful treat on a hot day but have you ever wondered which plums are the sweetest. If you have, then you are reading the right article.
In this guide, we will explore:
- Which Plums Are The Sweetest?
- Are Red or Black Plums Sweeter?
- Why Are My Plums Not Sweet?
- What to Do With Plums That Are Not Sweet?
Let’s begin.
So Which Plums Are the Sweetest?
In general terms, European plums are sweeter than Japanese plums. By the same token, it is a commonly held belief that the darker the meat of a plum, the sweeter it will be.
Using these standards as a guide, some top contenders for the sweetest plum would be:
- Black Splendor
- Blood Plum (Satsuma)
- Elephant Heart
- ‘John W’ Plums
- River’s Early Prolific
- Santa Rosa
Many factors can affect the sweetness of a particular fruit, including weather, soil composition, geography, and even pollination patterns. This makes it impossible to say, with any authority, a specific variety of plums will be the sweetest any given year.
The wisest way to assure you get the sweetest plums is to build a relationship with local growers and seek their advice on the varieties common in your area.
Are Red or Black Plums Sweeter?
Generally, black plums are sweeter. Black plums are considered a sweet fruit, while red plums are generally referred to as being sour-sweet. Black plums have a gentler flavor than red who tend to have tart skins and less fruity-tasting flesh.
Why Are My Plums Not Sweet?
Plums that have not been properly ripened will not be sweet, and if they are still green, they can have quite a pucker factor.
The good news is that plums will continue to ripen after they are picked. You can place them in a bowl on the counter and give them a few days, and they will slowly soften and sweeten. The ripening process can be accelerated by placing your plums in a brown paper sack.
Another possible cause of your plums not being sweet is that they have been chill damaged. Chill damage occurs when unripened plums are refrigerated.
The short explanation is that the cold stops the chemical reaction that ripens the fruit. Plums that have been chill damaged will never ripen, and you will end up with grainy bland plums.
What to Do With Plums That Are Not Sweet?
If you have tasteless plums that have been chill damaged (see above), there is little you can do with them. If you have plums that are not quite ripe, but you want to go ahead and use them, there are many options available to you.
- You can pickle green plums much as you would cucumbers or beets.
- Green Plum Chow Chow is a treat. Slice the plums thin and mix with tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, vinegar, and salt.
- You can thin slice unripened plums and soak them in pepper sauce and salt for a quick spicy salsa.
- Unripened plums that aren’t too young are lovelily grilled and served as a garnish with vegetables.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
