Autumn really comes up with a lot of fruit right now. Plums are hanging on the trees everywhere. Or are they damsons? What’s the difference?

Plum or damson, whatever the rose is!

Yes, you read correctly: Plums belong to the rose family. And since the damson is a subspecies of the plum, it does too. By the way, they both belong to the stone fruit, which probably doesn’t surprise you, because there is a stone hidden in every fruit.

But how do you recognize damsons?

Unlike the more roundish and reddish plums, damsons are elongated. The skin is blue-black and the flesh is rather firmer. In addition, these fruits are much easier to remove from the pit, which makes them the perfect autumn walk snack.

But that’s not the only place where damsons cut a better figure. Their slightly tart flavor and, as already mentioned, firm flesh make them ideal for baking cakes.

Plums, on the other hand, are softer and juicier. So they are ideal for pure enjoyment, juicing or even boiling down. By the way: Plums also include the yellowish mirabelles, which you can harvest in late summer 😉