damson

A type of plum (Prunus domestica, subspecies institia) in which the small, ovoid fruit is purplish with a waxy bloom; thought to be a cultivated form of bullace. (Family: Rosaceae.)

The Damson is an edible drupaceous fruit, a cultivated variety of the plum tree, Prunus domestica var. This latter point has been proven, as remnants of damsons are often found during archaeological digs of ancient Roman camps across England, and ancient writings describe the use of damson skins in the manufacture of purple dye. The damson was introduced into the American colonies by English settlers prior to the American Revolution and are regarded as thriving better in the eastern United States than other European plum varieties.

The damson is identified by its small, oval shape (though slightly pointed at one end), smooth-textured yellow-green flesh, and skin from dark blue to indigo.

The skin of the damson is heavily acidic, rendering the fruit unpalatable to some for eating out of hand. A range of varieties of damson are available, with some such as 'Merryweather' being more appropriate for eating when ripe straight from the tree while varieties such as 'Farleigh' benefit from cooking.

The term damson is often used to describe red wines with acidic, plummy flavors.