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Mirabelle plum

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(Redirected from Mirabelle Plum) Subspecies of plum This article is about the plum. For the given name, see Mirabelle (name). For other uses, see Mirabel (disambiguation).

Mirabelle plum
Blossom of Mirabelle plum in detail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Section: Prunus sect. Prunus
Species: P. domestica
Subspecies: P. d. subsp. syriaca
Trinomial name
Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca
(Borkh.) Janch. ex Mansf.

Mirabelle plum (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca) is a cultivar group of plum trees of the genus Prunus. It is believed that the plum was cultivated from a wild fruit grown in Anatolia.

Description

The mirabelle is identified by its small, oval shape, smooth-textured flesh, and especially by its red, or dark yellow colour which becomes flecked in appearance. They are known for being sweet and full of flavour. The fruit is primarily used in fruit preserves and dessert pies, and its juice is commonly fermented for wine or distilled into plum brandy. Some 90% of mirabelle plums grown commercially are made into either jam (70%) or eau de vie (20%).

The mirabelle reaches maturity and is harvested from July to mid-September in the Northern Hemisphere. The traditional method of shaking the trees is now mechanized, but the principle remains the same: the ripe fruits are shaken loose and collected in a net under the tree.

  • Mirabelle plums Mirabelle plums
  • Dried Mirabelle plums Dried Mirabelle plums

Cultivars

The following cultivars are considered part of the Mirabelle cultivar group:

Mirabelle de Lorraine

The mirabelle is a speciality of the French region of Lorraine, which has an ideal climate and soil composition for the cultivation of this fruit. This region produces 15,000 tons of mirabelle plums annually, which constitutes 80% of global commercial production.

There are two main cultivars grown for fruit production, derived from cherry plums grown in Nancy and Metz. The Metz type is smaller, less hard, and less sweet, and has no small red spots on the skin. It is very good for jam, while the Nancy type is better as fresh fruit as it is sweeter.

Since 1996 the mirabelle de Lorraine has been recognized and promoted by the EU as a high-quality regional product, with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This label guarantees a minimum fruit size (22 mm) and sugar content, and can only be used in a specific geographical zone of production.

The city of Metz dedicates two weeks to the Mirabelle plum during the popular Mirabelle Festival held in August. During the festival, in addition to open markets selling fresh prunes, mirabelle tarts, and mirabelle liquor, there is live music, fireworks, parties, art exhibits, a parade with floral floats and competition, and the crowning of the Mirabelle Queen and a gala of celebration.

Appellation protection

Import of mirabelles to the United States is generally restricted.

References

  1. ^ Titchmarsh, Alan (2008). The Kitchen Gardener. BBC Books. p. 247.
  2. Pierre (23 August 2022). "Mirabelle of Lorraine: A Delicious Golden Plum". French Moments. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. "Mirabelle season in Lorraine". Lorraine Tourisme. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. Dean, Sam (12 March 2013). "11 Weird Food Bans, from Blood to Bottled Water". Bon Appetit. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  • European Garden Flora; vol. IV; 1995.

See also

Hybrid Prunus
Taxon identifiers
Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca
Prunus syriaca
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