Plum jerkum facts for kids

Plum jerkum is a special alcoholic drink made from plums. It's a bit like cider (which is made from apples) or a fruit wine. People make it by fermenting plums, which means letting the fruit's natural sugars turn into alcohol.

Where Plum Jerkum Comes From

Plum jerkum comes from the north Cotswolds area in England. It was especially popular in the county of Worcestershire. This area, particularly around Pershore and the Vale of Evesham, was famous for growing lots of plums.

You could also find plum jerkum around Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. In the city of Worcester, plum jerkum was a traditional product, just like other local foods.

A Strong Drink

Plum jerkum is known for being quite strong. In the 1800s, people in Worcestershire sometimes mixed it with cider to make it less potent. This helped to "moderate its effect," meaning it wouldn't be as strong.

One story from Worcester tells about a man who drank too much plum jerkum. He admitted he had "a drop too much of it." This shows that it was a powerful drink, especially if someone drank it "neat" (without mixing it).

Different Kinds of Plums

The plum jerkum made near Chipping Campden was often made from a special dark plum. This plum was similar to a type called a bullace.

The color of plum jerkum could be very different. It ranged from a deep purple to a reddish color, like claret wine. Its taste also varied a lot. Some plum jerkum tasted very sweet, while others were sparkling and tart. The taste and color depended on the type of plum used to make it.

In Books and Stories

Some famous writers from Worcestershire have mentioned plum jerkum in their books. Fred Archer, a farmer and author, wrote about it in his stories about country life. John Moore also included plum jerkum in his books, which were set around a made-up place near Bredon Hill.

Modern Use of "Jerkum"

Today, some people who make craft drinks in America use the word "jerkum" more broadly. For them, "jerkum" can mean an alcoholic drink made from any fermented "stone fruit." Stone fruits are fruits with a large pit or stone inside, like nectarines, peaches, apricots, or pluots.

See also

In Spanish: Plum Jerkum para niños