Magiun of Topoloveni facts for kids

Magiun of Topoloveni is a special kind of jam from Romania. It's made from very ripe plums, and the cool thing is, it has no added sugar! This tasty spread comes from a town called Topoloveni in Argeș County. Since 2011, it has a special label from the European Union called "Protected Geographical Status." This means it's a unique product tied to its specific region.

History of Magiun

The recipe for Magiun of Topoloveni is quite old. People have been making it since at least 1914.

This special plum spread is only made in a certain area of Romania. This area includes towns like Boţarcani, Crinţeşti, Gorăneşti, and of course, Topoloveni. This region is perfect for growing plums. In fact, there are about 17,000 hectares (that's like 42,000 acres) of plum trees there!

In 2011, Magiun of Topoloveni became the first Romanian food to get a special protection from the European Union. This "Protected Geographical Indication" means it's a unique product from that specific place.

Something interesting happened in 2009. Romanian soldiers serving with NATO in Afghanistan started eating Magiun of Topoloveni. It replaced other jams in their food supplies because it's 100% natural. In 2010, the factory that makes it became an official supplier to the Romanian Royal Family.

What's in a Name?

The word magiun comes from the Turkish language. In Turkish, macun means "spread" or "paste."

How Magiun is Made

Making Magiun of Topoloveni is a careful process. First, four different types of plums are used. These plums are cooked for a very long time, about 10 hours. They are cooked over a very low heat, and no sugar is added. The cooking continues until the magiun becomes so thick that it sticks to a spoon.

The finished magiun is a thick, smooth paste. It has a dark brown color. It also has a high amount of "dry matter," which means it's very concentrated. This helps it stay fresh for a long time, even without adding any extra ingredients or preservatives. It can be stored at room temperature, up to 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

Many different kinds of plums are used to make Magiun of Topoloveni. These include local varieties of Prunus domestica like Boambe of Leordeni, Bistriteana, and Stanley.