Japanese Prunes

[bdcl1977]

Has anyone made Japanese prune wine? I have 1 tree and there is about 10 to 15 pounds of prunes just coming in. I have only made 4 wine kits and was thinking I would try my first fruit wine with these prunes. I have 2 carboys empty and wonder how much this would make. I am so new at this I'm not sure I want to tackle a fruit wine at this stage but I have the fruit and they are FREE.

Jim

 

[Maestro]

Don't prunes come from plums??? Don't you have to harvest a plum to then turn it into a prune???

 

[St Allie]

I have no idea what a japanese prune is.. can you post a photo?

Allie

 

[bdcl1977]

oops

Yes they are plums, my mistake not prunes but plums. Spell check doesn't catch blunders. As you can see they are not very large. They are sweet and have 2 large seeds inside.

Jim

 

[Maestro]

Mmmm, looks tasty.

 

[Larryh86GT]

Your plums look a lot better than the canned Aldi's plums I just made a batch from. I'll bet they will make a tasty wine for you.

Larry

 

[Tom]

Your plums look a lot better than the canned Aldi's plums I just made a batch from. I'll bet they will make a tasty wine for you.

Larry

And hows your Aldi Plums doing?

 

[Larryh86GT]

It's looking ok so far. I put a couple large glasses of the lees in the fridge and have let it clear. I added a little sugar to a small glass of it and it really is similar to plum wines I have purchased. (Or even Akadama plum wine from my days in Japan in the 60's.) It is very delicate as you mentioned but drinkable.

 

[St Allie]

they look like loquats to me.. do they fruit in bunches?

plums don't generally have two stones in them either. are the stones, smooth large and brown?

and a firm yellow flesh to the fruit.. quite juicy when fully ripe.. short shelf life?

looks like this on the tree?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6gy-5UfMPqI/R-7rM7wClLI/AAAAAAAAApU/glQ0eepr96U/s400/loquatfruit.jpg

Allie

 

[bdcl1977]

Loquats

I have done some research and they are Loquats, aka Japanese Plums. I found 3 different wine recipes for up to 2.5 gallons. Low acid and high sugar. I will need at least 2 pounds after pitting. I'll let y"all (southern slang) know if I can come up with that amount.
Jim

 

[St Allie]

loquats also make a very nice chutney.

 

[Sacalait]

If you can get a hold of a steam juicer that would eliminent much of the work like pitting and smashing. J. plums (loquats) give a unique earthy flavor.

 

[bdcl1977]

Thanks, pitting will take some time. I am harvesting tomorrow and will weigh out the amount to see if there are enough fruit to work with.