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Tiny Greengage Plums are a green, sweet delight in the produce department right now.
Months before we get our own local glut of summer plums, Greengages hit the fruit basket — flirting with their fragrance, enticing with their juicy bite during their short season. The flavor is well balanced between sweetness and acidity, so they’re easy to love. (If you’ve been in France, you might know them as Reine Claude plums. Sigh. We’d like to be in France.)
Grown: New Zealand
Season: February-March
Where: Available nationwide, loose in the bulk bin. Ask the produce manager to get them in if you can’t find them.
Storage: If they are very firm, allow to ripen at room temperature until they soften slightly.
Distributed by: Exclusively brought into the U.S. by Frieda’s Produce.
Delicious ways to use Greengage Plums
Best way: Eat out of hand!- Slice and toss in a salad.
- Make a chutney such as this Indian Plum Chutney .
- Use instead of pears in this Pear Tart.
- Make Greengage Plum and Vanilla Jam.
Disclosure: Frieda’s Produce sent the plums for review.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I inherited a green gauge plum tree that is just loaded this year.. First year ever. Got to find some recipe’s for these. do they dry or freeze well?
Jeff
Idaho
Jef,
I have not tried either drying or freezing them. They never last that long!
I would guess that if you freeze them, since they are watery, they will get mushy when you thaw them. That would be OK if you were to bake them in something, but you probably wouldn’t want to eat them raw out of hand, unless you want a pulpy plum. Just guessing! Let me know if you dry or freeze them and how that worked, and I’ll add your results to the post!
I have had a tree for 10 years , but right down didn’t know what was a few times , last year it grew about 12 green gages this year I say couple hundred blossoms
It will be amazing if you get a big crop!
Extra way; Persians make this:
Boil it to smooth, then sieve it, Add a bit of salt, spread it over plastic sheet or in a large tray. Let it sun-dry (home-made fruit roll)
Delicious savory snack!
Roy,
I like this idea! I will try it next time plums are in season here!
I have three greengage Plum trees in Oregon now and they are nearly breaking in half because they are so full of plums.
Dawn,
I am BEYOND jealous! You are so lucky…enjoy!
Wow! If you need help in harvesting those plums, please call on me.
Franki,
I only WISH I had a plum tree with these on it!
These look so beautiful – I’ve never seen them before. I called Gelsons but they had no idea what I was talking about. I’ve had a hard time getting info from Frieda’s as to where to find their products. I’ve emailed them to just be told the items I was looking for were “in select stores in LA” – so I’m not going to call every store in LA to hunt them down. Any tips on how to find these?
Christrina,
Drat! You might also check with your nearest Bristol Farms. The problem is that companies like Frieda’s work through distributors, and the distributors place the products in the actual stores, so Frieda’s can literally not know exactly which stores are carrying their products, or which stores are carrying which products! Crazy, eh? But that’s the way it works. Speak directly with yoru produce manager at Gelson’s — the guys who is in the produce section working. They can usually get what you are looking for!
G’day! Thanks for your post today that I found via Ninja Baker…very interesting as had never heard of Greengage plums before Dorothy…shared the love 🙂
Cheers! Joanne
Joanne,
You’re welcome, and please ask for them at your store! Short season…worth it!
I was just thinking how I needed a new fruit in my life. GREG
Greg,
This! Also try Sumo citrus. Mind blowing!
Interesting !! thank you for the pics and describing their taste.
Anna,
I hope you can try some!
These little green plums are amazing! Love your list!
Jeanne,
Thanks! They are sooo good!
What a great list! We used to have a greengage tree until last year. We were sad to see it go. The squirrels will miss it too! But I have never seen them in a market around here!
Abbe,
Youa are inspiring me to look into whether I can plant a Greengage where I live!
Thank you. Their color is throwing me off.
Liz,
Don’t be put off! They are very sweet! Close your eyes and bite!