Plums are Eastern in origin, but were already being grown in Syria before the arrival of the Romans. Pompey introduced them to Rome in 65 BC, and with time they entered the popular imagination as a sort of cure-all; plum trees were considered good luck, while the fruit was given to the sick to help them recover, and to the irascible to calm their minds.

There are literally thousands of varieties of plums, with new kinds emerging all the time -- the small, green Regina Claudia plums shown here, for example, ware introduced to Europe in the 1400s by French Crusaders returning from the Holy Land, who named them after their Queen.

From a dietetic standpoint plums are an excellent source of dietary fiber, and are also good sources of vitamin A, while they are not particularly rich in calories (60 for 100 g). In short, they're good for you!

While Italians do cook many kinds of plums, the season for Regina Claudia plums is so short, and they are so tasty as is that most people simply enjoy them at the close of the meal. Should you find yourself blessed with an overabundance of Regina Claudia plums, they will make a spellbinding plum jam.

More about Italian plums:
General plum Background, Info & Recipes
Fresh Prune Jam -- You could also use Regina Claudias

Plums Elsewhere on About:
Plum selection and storage
Carb and Glycemic Counts for Plums