Origin: The European plum is believed to have originated from the region around the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, then it later spread to Europe and Asia. The Japanese plum tree is from China and has a lot of significance culturally. The plum and its origin have also been mentioned in many books and writings.
The plum species are almost 2,000 years old. The main plum producing countries are China, the U.S.A., Rumania, former Yugoslavia, Germany and all the countries with a subtropical climate. There are many famous written documents from 479 B.C. describing the origin of Wild plums in the Old and New Worlds. It is one of the most important stone fruits crops in the world.
Scientifically: Plum belongs to the genus Prunus of the family Rosaceae. This fruit is closely related to peaches and cherries. The two most commonly grown plums are the European plum and the Japanese plum. These are the commercial varieties as well.
The usual height of the plum tree is from 6 to 10 meters (20 to 33 feet) and has small shrubs with drooping branches. The flower grows on most varieties but they grow for a short while and each bud has 4 to 5 flowers.
The flowers are always densely packed Each flower grows into a hollow cuplike structure known as the hypanthium, which later fertilizes and its attachments fall off, giving birth to drupe fruit. As the fruit grows, the outer part ripens into a fleshy juicy outer, and the inner part forms the pit enveloping the seed. The fruits vary in size, flavor, color, and texture depending on the ripeness.
Usage: Plums not only taste good but also have great medicinal value. They are healthy and loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Plums are famous for their impressive health benefits. Plums are known to improve heart health and maintain blood pressure levels. They also help in regulating blood circulation in the body.
They help in improving digestive health and relieve from constipation. The reddish-blue color of the skin of the plum is because of the pigment, anthocyanins, which helps in fighting free radicals. They also protect against breast cancer, cavity, and oral cancer. They also boost good cholesterol in the body. Consumption of plums improves skin and hair texture.
They help in firming and toning of the skin. Plums also contain boron, which improves bone density and bone health. Home remedies with plum and regular consumption of plum help in the healing of damaged skin with new skin. Consuming plums also improve skin texture and elasticity. It also treats pigmentation. Plums are widely eaten fresh as a dessert fruit, cooked as compote or jam, or baked in a variety of pastries and desserts. The dried version of plums are called prunes are also very famous and are consumed as a dry fruit.
Below are some DIYs with Plums:
- Mash two to three ripe plums and apply this puree on to the face. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse. This remedy helps in reducing the appearance of dark spots and freckles.
- Take 5-7 ripe plums and boil them in a cup of water. Boil until you receive thick extract and once chilled; add a tablespoon of yogurt to it. Apply the mixture all over the face and neck and rinse it off after 15 minutes. This remedy helps in removing suntan.
- Extract the pulp of 2 ripe plums and add a teaspoon of honey to it. Mix them together and apply on the face for 10 minutes. Rinse later. This remedy helps in hydrating and cleansing the skin.
- Boil 5-7 de-seeded plums in 500 ml of water. Boil until reduced to half. Let it chill and then use it as a hair rinse. This remedy helps in strengthening the roots of the hair. Shampoo after 30 minutes of keeping it on.