Around the World in 40 Fruits – Volume 31 – By Dr. Marli Botha – Article 31 of 40
By Dr. Marli Botha
In Serbia there is a saying “The best place to build a house is wherever a plum tree will grow” it is clear just how important the fleshy fruit is to life of this proud Balkan nation.
Let’s wander through the orchards and discover why Serbia and the plum are such a legendary match:
- It is difficult to determine a genuinely accurate number, but Serbia is thought to be home to over 40 million plum trees.
- Šljivovica is a potent plum brandy is central to Serbian culture, served at all important events and rites of passage, and is considered Serbia’s national drink.
- Serbia is a leading global plum producer, historically one of its first major exports, the first exports taking place in 1820, with varieties like the Stanley and Čačak types being prominent.
- Like peaches and cherries, plums are drupes, meaning they have a single hard pit (stone) in the center.
- Most antioxidants are concentrated in the skin, so eating the peel provides extra benefits
