Friday, 3 September 2010

Plummy Greengages


My aunt brought me several greengages yesterday afternoon. Now I have to admit that I know nothing whatsoever about greengages.

Having consulted my trusty Nuttall's, I discovered that greengages are a kind of plum, introduced to England by Sir William Gage Bt KCB ca 1725 when he obtained a supply from France. According to Nuttall they are pronounced Green-gage.

Apparently greengages are treated in exactly the same way as plums, re consumption.

4 comments :

Anonymous said...

We swear by greengage jam here.

W.

Timothy Belmont said...

That sounds good.

John Self said...

I had my first greengages this week too (they must be on special offer!). I was slightly suspicious of them, as it's very difficult to get the brain not to assume that anything green is either sour or vegetable-like. But they were delicious, eaten as you say like plums. Sweet and tender. More please!

Timothy Belmont said...

I read somewhere that they are ripe when they turn amber!