The sugar plums that ripen in summertime aren’t the ones that sweeten children’s dreams on the night before Christmas. Those sugarplums are candies made of dried fruit, sugar and spices. But the fresh, European-style plums of the same name are just as tantalizing, with their unusual oval shape, varying colors and delicate flavor. Once you discover how good they are for baking, you’ll have visions of Italian plum cake, too.
The dominant plum varieties in America, descendants of an Asian species, bring a dazzling array of colors to late-summer produce stalls. We all know the classic American plum, its maroon skin so dark it’s almost black. But cousins of the same plum can be pale yellow, red with pink flesh or even speckled pink and white in the case of the Dappled Dandy, a Pluot, or plum-apricot hybrid. They share one thing in common, though: a cute, round shape.
FAQs
The confection's price often reflected this, which meant sugarplums were a luxury item worthy of visions, to be enjoyed on a special occasion. So enticing was the idea of a sugarplum that the term gradually came to describe a great many other enjoyable things outside the confectionery realm.
Are sugar plums the same as Italian plums? ›
In America, we call them sugar or Italian plums, and we grow them primarily to dry into prunes. (In France, the word for plum is actually prune.) Their high sugar content makes them ideal for drying and preserving.
What do sugar plums represent? ›
If someone was giving a bribe, they were said to be stuffing that person's mouth with sugar plums. “Plum” was also 18th century slang for a large amount of money. candy dry then returns it to the pan, adding yet another layer of sugar and so on.
Are sugar plums healthy? ›
Sugar plums are a source of potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, vitamin C to strengthen the immune system while boosting collagen production within the skin, and calcium to build strong bones and teeth.
What does sugar plum mean in slang? ›
Wiktionary. Term of endearment; sweetheart, darling. Wiktionary. Alternative spelling of sugar-plum. Wiktionary.
What is the sugar plum analogy? ›
For instance, if you had a “mouth full of sugar plums,” it meant you spoke sweet but deceitful words. If you “stuffed someone's mouth with sugar plums,” it meant you were trying to bribe someone.
What can I substitute for Italian plums? ›
Although the torte is at its irresistible best when using Italian plums, standard-issue red plums and black plums — the juicier, the better — are wildly successful substitutes. Pluots, too.
Why are they called Italian plums? ›
Italian Prune plums acquired their name from their native growing region, but the variety has found greater success outside of Italy, favored as a home garden cultivar in Germany and the United States.
What is the Italian name for plums? ›
prugna (a.k.a. susina) / plum.
When a guy calls you sugar plum? ›
Term of endearment: sweetheart, darling.
The Sugar Plum Fairy is about the hope and faith that there is something in life far greater, more beautiful, and more powerfully good than any earthly human being. We can each aspire to be like her in some way and she will bring us to a higher spiritual place.
Are sugar plums a Christmas thing? ›
The Sugar Plum Fairy is a coveted role in "The Nutcracker." The connection with the holiday season is clearer, however. “The association with Christmas is likely due to the value and scarcity and expense of sugar in the past, making it a special treat you might only have once a year,” Kimmerle said.
Can diabetics eat sugar plums? ›
Can People with Diabetes Eat Plums? Yes! Plums can be part of a healthy eating plan to manage blood glucose (blood sugar) levels—and their fiber content can improve digestive health and bowel regularity, support a healthy gut, and aid in weight management efforts by enhancing feelings of fullness.
What is the healthiest fruit? ›
Blueberries take the title of healthiest fruit. Blueberries' stunning hue comes from their anthocyanins — an antioxidant believed to be responsible for their numerous health benefits. Long-term studies suggest that including blueberries in your regular lineup may lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Are plums good for high blood pressure? ›
The potassium in plums is good for blood pressure control in two ways. It helps your body get rid of sodium when you pee, and it lessens tension in the walls of your blood vessels. When your blood pressure is low, your odds of getting a stroke go down.
What is the story behind the sugar plum Fairy? ›
The Sugar Plum Fairy is about the hope and faith that there is something in life far greater, more beautiful, and more powerfully good than any earthly human being. We can each aspire to be like her in some way and she will bring us to a higher spiritual place.
What is the spiritual meaning of the plum fruit? ›
The plum tree is significant in Chinese myths and appeared frequently in the writings of Confucius. The Chinese believe the plum to be a symbol of resurrection, longevity and great wisdom. Plum Magical Properties: Love, spirituality, relaxation, passion, longevity, wisdom, rebirth.
What does the plum represent in the Bible? ›
The great prophet Amos was given a vision of a plumb line which would become the symbol of the standard by which God's people would need to live. It represents a standard by which the faithful need to live, and a measure from which divine judgment is gauged.
What is the Christmas poem about sugar plums? ›
"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicolas soon would be there; the children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads."
