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Mirabelle de Metz plums are unique and easily recognizable, by their petite size and yellow outer skin. Smaller than a golf ball, the Mirabelle de Metz plum measure less than 3 centimeters in diameter and is completely spherical in shape. They are often covered in a dusty white bloom that acts as a sort of water barrier. The inner flesh is a pale translucent yellow and is crisp yet juicy. The Mirabelle de Metz plum offers a very sweet full bodied flavor with notes of concentrated dried apricot, golden raisin, and honey.
Seasons/Availability
Mirabelle de Metz plums are available in the mid-summer months.
Current Facts
The Mirabelle de Metz plum is a botanical variety of Prunus domestica. It is a celebrated heirloom variety that hails from a small city, which is also its namesake, in Lorraine, France known as Metz. The plum is prized for its intensely rich flavors that heavily influence the region's food and alcohol production. Another popular mirabelle plum variety, the Mirabelle de Nancy, is also grown nearby. Combined in this small region, the two varieties count for 80 percent of the world’s commercial mirabelle harvest.
Nutritional Value
Mirabelle de Metz plums are high in vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, phosphate and dietary fiber. These nutrients are important for a strong immune system, a healthy digestive system, lowering cholesterol levels, and prevent the negative effects of free radicals.
Applications
The Mirabelle de Metz plum can be eaten fresh, however it is often used in baked goods or fermented and distilled into a French fruit liquor know as eau de vie. Cook the small fruits down into a silky puree perfect for tart fillings or jams, jellies, and compotes. Complimentary flavors include vanilla, nutmeg, tropical fruits, chocolate, butter, fennel, basil, citrus, mild fresh cheeses such as chevre and ricotta.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
For two weeks in the month of August, the city of Metz celebrates and holds a Mirabelle Festival. They sell and enjoy fresh prunes, tarts and liquor made from Mirabelle plums. There is even a crowning of the Mirabelle Queen.
Geography/History
Mirabelle de Metz plums have been cultivated in France since the 1500s. Today, import and export laws in Lorraine, France are currently responsible for the ban on these plums to be sold or transported outside of the area. Similar to law governing authentic champagne only hailing from Champagne, France, these plums guarded as a kind of national culinary treasure. Though plums of similar taste, color and size have been grown and sold outside of the region of Lorraine, the true Mirabelle de Metz plum can only come from one designated area in Lorraine, France.
Les Primeurs d'Excellence
48 Rue Saint-Honoré Paris 75001
Mirabelle de Metz plums are known for their petite size and bright yellow skin, often dusted with a natural white bloom that helps repel water. With a completely spherical shape and a diameter of less than 3 centimeters, their translucent yellow flesh is both crisp and juicy. These plums boast a sweet, full-bodied flavor profile that includes hints of dried apricot, golden raisin, and honey, making them a truly unique fruit.
Andreas of Chelsea Green
4 Cale St Chelsea London SW3 3QU England
+44 20 7589 5775
The Mirabelle de Metz plum is a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed fresh or used in culinary creations. Its small, sweet fruits are often cooked down into purees for tarts, jams, jellies, and compotes. It pairs wonderfully with flavors like vanilla, nutmeg, tropical fruits, chocolate, butter, fennel, basil, citrus, and mild cheeses such as chèvre and ricotta. It is also distilled into eau de vie, a traditional French fruit liquor.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110
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(619) 295-3172 [email protected]
Mirabelle Plums from Penryn Orchard Specialties…The Mirabelle de Metz plum, linked to Metz in Lorraine, France, is a botanical variety of Prunus domestica known for its rich flavors that play a key role in local cuisine and alcohol production. Along with the Mirabelle de Nancy, these plums make up 80 percent of the global mirabelle plum harvest, rooted in this small yet significant region celebrated for their cultivation.
Mirabelle plums are in-season Borough Market London …..Mirabelle de Metz plums are considered a national culinary treasure in France and have been grown in Lorraine since the 1500s. Strict laws prohibit their sale or transport outside this region, much like how only sparkling wine from Champagne can be called champagne. While similar plums exist outside Lorraine, the authentic Mirabelle de Metz plums are uniquely tied to this specific area in France.
Mirabelle Festival: Every August, the city of Metz celebrates the Mirabelle Festival, featuring fresh prunes, tarts, and liquor all made from Mirabelle plums. The event also includes the crowning of a Mirabelle Queen, making it a highlight of the cultural calendar in this region. It’s a time of great community spirit and delicious culinary traditions.
Turnips Borough Market
43 Borough Market, London SE1 9AH, United Kingdom
+44 20 7357 8356
Mirabelle de Metz plums are petite, spherical fruits with a diameter of less than 3 centimeters and a vibrant yellow skin, often covered by a dusty white bloom that serves as a natural water barrier. Their flesh is pale translucent yellow, crisp yet juicy, and delivers a very sweet flavor profile, blending hints of dried apricot, golden raisin, and honey for a rich and delightful taste.
Mirabelle plums @ Turnips!...The Mirabelle de Metz plum can be enjoyed fresh but truly shines in culinary applications such as tart fillings, jams, jellies, and compotes. It pairs exquisitely with flavors like vanilla, nutmeg, tropical fruits, chocolate, butter, fennel, basil, citrus, and mild cheeses like chevre and ricotta. Its versatility also extends to being fermented and distilled into the classic French fruit liquor, eau de vie, adding depth to its culinary allure.
Natoora
135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3YD, United Kingdom
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+44 020 7237 0346 [email protected]
Mirabelle de Metz: This variety of mirabelle plum originates from Metz, Lorraine, France, and is celebrated for its rich flavors. Alongside the Mirabelle de Nancy plum, it contributes to 80% of the global commercial mirabelle harvest. A regional treasure, its influence extends beyond culinary uses to alcohol production, showcasing its significance in the area's traditions and economy.
Specialty Produce
1929 Hancock st. San Diego CA
619 295 3172
Mirabelle plums are available @specialtyproduce !...Mirabelle plums: The true Mirabelle de Metz plums are considered a national culinary treasure in France and are protected by strict import and export laws in Lorraine. Similar to Champagne's exclusivity, only plums grown in the designated area of Lorraine can bear the true name. Though some plums of similar flavor and appearance are grown elsewhere, they are not officially recognized as Mirabelle de Metz.
Specialty Produce
619 295 3172
Mirabelle de Metz Plums spotted at Specialty Produce….Mirabelle de Metz Plums are celebrated in the city of Metz with an annual Mirabelle Festival each August. The festival lasts for two weeks and features fresh prunes, delicious tarts, and liquor crafted from the plums. A highlight of the event is the crowning of the Mirabelle Queen, adding a regal touch to the festivities.