1. How to choose delicious plums
– Look at the color: Most plums sold in fruit stores have a deep red, purple, or light red color (similar to orange). You should choose plums with consistent color all around.
– Choose plums with smooth skin: If there are blemishes, dents, or cuts on the skin, you should not buy them because those plums may have signs of rot inside. You should also not buy plums with wrinkled skin as they are not fresh.
– Gently squeeze the flesh (near the stem) of the plum: If you feel it is firm, then the plum is not ripe yet. To ripen it, you can put it in a paper bag for one or two days. However, you need to note that ripening does not proportionally relate to the plum’s ripeness.
– Feel the weight of the plum: When you hold a plum and feel it heavy, it indicates that it contains a lot of juice, so you should buy it. If it feels light and has no sensation, it means it has shriveled or lost water.
2. Cách phân biệt mận Sapa Lào Cai and mận Trung Quốc
All plums from Sapa Lào Cai go out of season around mid-July to the end of July, so any plums after that are plums from China. Not only that, Sapa Lào Cai plums also have a purple color, a sweet taste, but are small in size, not as big as Chinese plums.
In addition, Sapa plums also have a variety called Hậu plums, which have green skin, soft skin, yellow flesh, and a sour taste. There is also a type of Tà Van plum which is small, the size of a thumb, and has a beautiful purple color, but it is very sour, so it is usually only used for soaking in wine or making syrup. Another type of plum harvested in Bắc Hà Sa Pa district has a light purple color, red flesh, large size like an apple, and a sour taste. It also has a layer of white powder on the outside.
3. Other notes
It is best to buy plums that still have stems and leaves. You should taste them, if they are Vietnamese plums, the taste will always be sour from the skin and sweet from the flesh, not light and soft like Chinese plums.
Do not buy plums with insect bites or nail marks, as they can be easily contaminated with bacteria.
Storage: After buying plums, you need to wash them thoroughly with saltwater. You should store them in the refrigerator at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, as this will keep the plums fresh and delicious. Do not leave the plums in a hot and humid place as it will affect the quality.
Before eating, you need to wash the plums again with saltwater. When buying plums, you should also filter them once more to remove any worms or rotten ones.
Based on Khoevadep
