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A prune is a dried fruit of various plum species, mostly Prunus domestica or European Plums. The fresh fruit looks like a normal plum, but has an oval shape, similar to an apricot. When dried it is wrinkly in texture, and chewy on the inside.
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Production
More than 1,000 cultivars of plums are grown for drying. The main cultivar grown in the US is the Improved French prune. Other varieties include Sutter, Tulare Giant, Moyer, Imperial, Italian, and Greengage. In general, prunes are freestone cultivars (the pit is easy to remove), whereas most other plums grown for fresh consumption are cling (the pit is more difficult to remove). Fresh prunes reach the market earlier than fresh plums and are usually smaller in size and have an oval shape.
One of the largest and best-known prune producers is Sunsweet Growers, headquartered in Yuba City, CA, who control more than 2/3 of the prune market worldwide. In the United States, an effort to rebrand "prunes" as "dried plums" began in 2000, to appeal to a younger market who associated prunes with elderly people.[1] However, only some varieties of plum are usually called prunes when dried; others have usually been called "dried plums" in any case.[2]
In India, the prune is known by the Persian name or as Alu-Bukhara (literally fruit or potato of Bukhara).
Uses
Prunes are used in cooking both sweet and savory dishes. Stewed prunes, a compote, are a dessert. Prunes are a frequent ingredient in North African tagines. Perhaps the best-known gastronomic prunes are those of Agen (pruneaux d'Agen). Prunes are used frequently in Tzimmes, a traditional Jewish dish in which the principal ingredient is diced or sliced carrots; and in traditional Norwegian fruktsuppe.
Health benefits
Prune juice contains the natural laxative dihydrophenylisatin (related to isatin).[3] Prunes also contain a fair amount of dietary fiber (about 7%, or 0.7 g per prune). Prunes and prune juice are thus common home remedies for constipation. (According to the dietary fiber article, plums and prunes have a thick skin covering a juicy pulp--the plum's skin is a source of insoluble fiber, whereas the pulp is a source of soluble fiber.) Prunes have a high antioxidant content [1]. [2]
In popular culture
- "A warrior's drink!" - Worf, after being introduced to prune juice by Guinan in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Yesterday's Enterprise". It becomes his favorite beverage. [4]
- There has long been an urban myth that prune juice is an ingredient in Dr Pepper.[5]
- The word prune can be a derogatory term, for example, "Dom is being a prune", meaning that Dom is in a bad mood.
References
- ^ Zasky, Jason (c.2002). TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: CHANGE FROM 'PRUNE' TO 'DRIED PLUM' PROVING FRUITFUL. Failure Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-04-05.
- ^ Zasky, op. cit. "The dried European plums equal prunes while the dried Japanese plums are usually just called dried plums."
- ^ "Laxative Use and Abuse in the Older Adult: Part I", Vivek Kumar, Sam Yoselevitz, & Steven Gambert, Clinical Geriatrics, April 2007, pp. 37-42
- ^ Worf Quotations. Retrieved on 2007-04-24.
- ^ Mikkelson, Barbara (27 February 2007). Belle Pepper. Snopes. Retrieved on 2007-04-05. “Dr Pepper doesn't contain any prune juice, but this rumor is remarkably long-lived, having been with us since about 1930.”
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See also
External links
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 5 July 2008, at 05:55.
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