When baking sheets are fragrant and trees are heavy in late summer, it's plum season. The juicy, purple fruits are not only a delight on their own but also the stars in many traditional recipes – from the famous plum cake to plum butter. But did you know that plums are also an alkaline helper that can relieve your body? We'll tell you here why you should definitely take advantage of the short season.
What you should know about plums
The plum is a native superfood. Its season is in late summer, from July to September. During these months, it is abundant regionally and seasonally. This is not only good for the environment but also for the taste, as the fruits can be harvested ripe.
Plums and zwetschgen are often thrown into the same pot. A small difference: plums are usually rounder and have a distinct abdominal seam, while zwetschgen are more elongated and easier to separate from the pit. Both are healthy and delicious!
Nutrients & Effects
Plums are true protectors of your cells. They are rich in antioxidants (the blue pigments, anthocyanins), which scavenge free radicals and thus protect against cell aging. They also contain vitamin C, which strengthens your immune system, especially with autumn approaching.
They are ideal for a conscious diet: they have an alkaline-forming effect in the body and balance acid-forming foods (like meat or sugar). An important note: plums contain fruit acid. This provides their great aroma but can irritate very sensitive stomachs or teeth in large quantities.
Taste & Texture
The taste is a perfect balance: mildly sweet and sour. The flesh is juicy, soft, and melts in your mouth, while the skin often has a slight, pleasant tartness.
Unfortunately, ripe plums spoil quickly. Once they are soft, they only last for a short time and should be processed quickly.
Preparation with kitchen appliances
Plums are extremely versatile and can be processed wonderfully with your appliances:
- Slow Juicer / Juicer: A highlight of your graphics: Plums are great for juices! Juice them (pitted!) together with apples and a pinch of cinnamon. The juice is thick, filling, and aids digestion.
- Bread Maker: The classic, of course, is plum butter ("Latwerge"). Many bread makers have a jam function that saves you hours of stirring. Put the fruits with spices in and look forward to an aromatic spread.
- Air Fryer: A quick plum crumble for an impromptu visit? Put plum pieces in a small dish, sprinkle streusel over them, and bake in the air fryer. In 15 minutes, you'll have a warm, fragrant dessert.
- Blender: For a purple power smoothie, put plums with banana and yogurt in the blender. Since they contain fruit acid, they bring a great freshness to milky shakes.
- Ice Cube Tray: Puree ripe plums and freeze the pulp in an ice cube tray. These cubes are brilliant for refining sauces for game dishes in winter or for stirring into hot porridge.
Shopping & Storage
Look for the "bloom": The whitish waxy layer on the skin protects the plum from drying out. It's best to buy fruits with this layer still intact and wash them just before eating.
Since they spoil quickly, ripe plums belong in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer. There they will last 2–3 days. Hard fruits can ripen at room temperature.
Use in the kitchen
- Sweet: Plum cake from a sheet (Datschi) with cream is legendary.
- Savory: Plums wrapped in bacon or braised with roasts add a delightful sweet-sour note.
- Preserved: Canned as compote, they remind you of summer even in winter.
- Digestive Aid: Dried plums are a well-known home remedy for sluggish digestion, as they bind water in the intestine and stimulate bowel movement.
- Pit Oracle: "He loves me, he loves me not..." – in the past, children used plum pits for counting and fortune-telling, similar to daisy petals.
- Namesake: The expression "Pflaume" (plum) for a clumsy person probably comes from the fact that the fruit was considered worthless if it was mushy (soft).
Fun Facts
Conclusion
The plum is the perfect companion through late summer. It is seasonal, regional, alkaline-forming, and rich in antioxidants. While it spoils quickly and contains fruit acid, its mildly sweet-sour taste makes up for everything. Enjoy it while it's available – best fresh as juice, as it is well suited for that!
