the.com/damson
the plum's sour, stubborn cousin that refuses to be eaten raw without a fight
means A small, dark-purple plum with tart, astringent flesh, prized for jams, preserves, and cooking rather than eating fresh.
from A worn-down survivor of the Latin phrase prunum damascenum, 'plum of Damascus' — the Syrian city its ancestors were associated with. The name traveled into Old French and then into English, where 'damascene' eventually crumpled into the brisk little 'damson' we use now, still quietly carrying a faraway city in its first syllable.
- too tart
- Almost inedible raw, sublime once cooked
- ancient roots
- Named after Damascus, cultivated for millennia
- jam royalty
- Its high pectin makes it set beautifully
- dye job
- Skins once yielded a deep purple dye
- tough fruit
- Thrives in harsh climates that kill softer plums
damson plum — small dark purple plum from damascus, traditionally grown in kent, england for jam-making
shropshire damson — pdo-protected variety from shropshire, england, used for damson gin and preserves since the 1600s