Use mirabelle plums and preserve them<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\nMirabelle plums are actually a subspecies of the plums ( Prunus domestica<\/em> ). But that doesn’t make them any less special, because their little yellow fruits are a real treat. The mirabelle plum probably originated from a cross between the plum and the cherry plum ( Prunus cerasifera<\/em> ) or sloe ( Prunus spinosa<\/em> ), but no one can say that today.<\/p>\nIn any case, its scientific name syriaca<\/em> indicates its origin: the region around Syria in Asia Minor. However, the world’s largest cultivation area for mirabelle plums is not so far away from here, but in the middle of Lorraine. Mirabelle trees don’t get very big, around six meters. Their growth is mostly bushy and sparse, but they can be raised to be pretty trees.<\/p>\nThey are particularly beautiful in April and May when the white flowers cast a spell over the beholder and provide a valuable source of food for numerous insects. Due to the countless crossings and close relatives, mirabelle plums are not always easy to recognize. Important distinguishing features are the late flowering, the hairy flower stalks, and the oval, slightly serrated leaves. The tasty yellow fruits are about 2-3 centimeters tall and can be easily detached from the stone.<\/p>\n
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Note on<\/strong> red mirabelle plums:<\/strong> Wait a minute, can’t mirabelle plums also bear red fruits? This opinion is widespread, but in fact, mirabelle plums are always yellow. They do white from time to time with red speckles or cheeks, but there are no deep red mirabelle plums. Mirabelle-like fruits with a red color usually belong to the cherry plum ( Prunus cerasifera<\/em> ), which is very similar to the mirabelle plums. Cherry plum fruits can be either red, yellow, or purple, and are similar in size and shape to mirabelle plums.<\/p>\nHowever, during flowering, you can easily tell the difference between the two species. Cherry plums bloom about two weeks earlier and, unlike mirabelle plums, have a bare flower stalk. The ripening of the cherry plum is also somewhat earlier than that of the mirabelle plum and begins at the end of June. If you are still not entirely sure, then the stone solubility of the pulp is an essential distinguishing feature, because cherry plums are far less easy to detach from the stone than mirabelle plums.<\/p>\n