USA Sugar Prune Plums are small to medium-sized fruits with an elongated, oval to oblong shape. The plums are typically broad in the middle and taper slightly to blunt curved ends. The fruit's skin is thin, smooth, and taut, showcasing variegated dark red, purple, red, yellow, to purple-blue hues. The skin is also covered in a powdery white bloom that can be easily removed and has a snappy texture, creating an initially crisp mouthfeel.
Underneath the surface, the golden-yellow to yellow-green flesh is dense, firm, and aqueous with a tender, succulent consistency. Sugar plums also develop a soft and chewy texture when cooked or dried. The flesh encases a central light brown pit that does not extend fibers into the flesh, allowing it to be easily removed, also known as a freestone variety. When selecting fresh Sugar plums, look for softer fruits for eating out of hand and firmer fruits for cooked preparations.
Plums in markets with a slightly shriveled nature are still edible and have a concentrated, sweeter taste. Fresh Sugar plums have a high sugar content, contributing to their sugary-sweet and subtly tart flavoring with warm spice and brown sugar undertones.
