Greengages from the garden
Greengages (Prunus domestica italica) are closely related to plums, but are smaller, rounder and, when ripe, sweeter. They are believed to have originated in Iran and were first brought to England in the 18th century by way of France.
Identifying labels of the tree(s) were lost in transit from France to England, to the home of Sir William Gage, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The resulting fruits, which were pale green, were referred to as Gage’s plums, eventually becoming known simply as greengages.
In France, greengages are called ‘Reine Claude.’ The plum was introduced to France during Francis I’s reign and was named ‘Reine Claude’ to honour the wife of King Francis I. Queen Claude was called ‘la bonne reine,’ the good Queen.
Claude of France (1499-1524) was reputed to be a gentle, kind, and virtuous queen, more intent on her charitable works and less interested in politics than some other queens had been. Despite Francis I’s many infidelities, she was a faithful wife to him, bearing seven children. She was married at the age of fourteen, and died when she was twenty-four.
Greengage jam, childhood memory. Not easy to find greengages if you didn't have a tree.
ReplyDeleteI like jam but prefer to eat the fruit straight from the tree. Challenging if you have a glut, when clearly preserving is the answer.
DeleteOkay, they sell thee in the store here. I didn't know what they were called and their history.
ReplyDeleteDo you eat them?
DeleteWe had a greengage tree in our backyard many years ago. I don't actually remember how or why it was lost, but I do remember the fruits as being delicious!
ReplyDeleteAh, I shall add greengages to my grocery orders now you have reminded me! Nectarines and peaches from the supermarket have been so disappointing; they are like rocks.
DeleteThey are described as having a honey flavour, though I couldn't detect that.
DeleteThey look delicious - I love plums except the fibres get caught between my teeth but we'll just ignore that and get out the dental floss :D
ReplyDeleteIt just means you can enjoy them for longer . . . 😉🤣
DeleteSeven children in ten years! Yikes! I have never seen greengages here and wouldn't recognise them if i did.
ReplyDeleteI think the poor soul was exhausted, particularly starting in her early teens, when she probably hadn't finished growing.
DeleteI didn't know about the Suffolk connection to Greengages. I shall have to investigate
ReplyDeleteThere's some question over whether it was the 2nd or the 7th baronet who introduced them .
DeleteOoh lucky you. I love greengages but haven't seen any in ages.
ReplyDeleteWe've had our tree for a few years now and this is the first year we've had more than a handful of fruit. I love them.
DeleteIn ten years, from the age of fourteen, she gave birth to seven children, then died. Houston, can you see that there may have been a problem?
ReplyDeleteI've seen greengage plums but I've never tried them. I thought they might be like green apples, not to my taste.
There was some debate over the cause of death - exhaustion was one suggestion, syphilis contracted from her husband was another. Sad life.
DeleteIts journey from Iran to England and France beautifully intertwined with royal legacy and timeless qualities of kindness and resilience
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it was as romantic as it sounds!
DeleteWe used to be given bags of plums. Not greengage though. I would make plum sauce and plum jam. Alas the plums must have dried up. Its a few years since we have had a 'handover'. I don't think I've ever seen greengages here.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's too hot now for stone fruits to grow successfully.
DeleteFirst time I've heard of a greengage. How sad that Claude of France died at such a young age. That sure was a lot of children to have in just 10 years time
ReplyDeletePoor soul - terrible life to be permanently pregnant.
DeleteHi Janice - I see the Gages of Suffolk are/were relatives of the Gages of Firle Place here in Sussex. I love greengages ... but have never been in a home that's grown them ... plums yes - but I've eaten both! Cheers and keep on enjoying them! Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you for that information, Hilary. I had to follow it, as you knew I would.
DeleteSo what you are saying is that King Francis I was like Gary Glitter - a paedophile scumbag? Somebody should have picked his plums and chucked them in the Seine.
ReplyDeleteThat was the order of things then. The poor girl was a breeding machine.
DeleteI'm not sure I've ever had a greengage. I don't think they are common in the part of the United States where I live. We have yellow plums, reddish plums and purplish (prune) plums. I would love to try one-I love many plums.
ReplyDeleteI love plums, too, juicy and sweet.
DeleteDid not know of the green plums. They look delicious. Glad you are harvesting some. Our bad apples are dropping in the thunderstorms and the deer, groundhog and squirrels are harvesting them. When I was a kid, I used to squeeze under and electric cow fence and pick plum from a wild pasture tree. Mother made the best preserves with them. I got zapped a few times, ouch.
ReplyDeleteYou were a brave little thing. Being zapped once would have been more than enough for me.
DeleteI had never heard of them. I thought you were inventing a word to encapsulate the greenery of a summer garden.
ReplyDelete😁
ReplyDeleteYears ago we had a garden with a greengage tree. Such lovely fruit - I did make a lot of jam.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Lovely memory!
DeleteSuch a beautiful and healthy looking fruit. When I saw that bloom I thought, wow...that looks like a plum bloom..
ReplyDeleteIt is a gorgeous fruit.
DeleteI never heard of these. Will have to see if they are available here - CJ
ReplyDeleteThey're not always available in shops here, so good luck. 😊
DeleteGorgeous plums -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThey really are.
DeleteI had no idea about Queen Claude, what a touching backstory. Your photos are beautiful
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteI know Rein Claudes, which is what we're calling them here in Belgium too. My husband absolutely loves them. I had no idea greengages were the exact same thing, though. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a short season, I think, but they are lovely.
DeleteWe had a Denniston Superb greengage in my parents' orchard. I have my Father's book of 'Simple Fruit Growing', a book production war economy standard! Inside he set out a plan of the trees that he would plant when he came home from the war. Wonderful names, Peasgood Nonesuch, Allington Pippin and Egremont Russet. I loved that orchard.
ReplyDeleteSorry, not anonymous, but hare my garden.
DeleteGreengages were around a lot in my youth but seem somehow to have fallen out of favour and i wonder whether I could even get one now to plant in my orchard. So many things we wnjoyed seem to have fallen foul of commercial food fashion - too small, wrong colour, not loaded with enough sugars
ReplyDeleteTrees are available, at a price, of course. Maybe they're coming back into fashion?
DeleteDelicious fruits and I think I prefer them to plums. It was interesting to read about their history. Thank you, Janice.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
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