What is this tree/fruit?

PeteW

Hi, we have two of these trees in our garden and I don't know what they are. They look like small plums but are quite hard? I thought maybe damsons? Could they be anything else?

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/17ZzNXh7r6pC8Euf2

Thanks

Pete

Davesnave

It certainly looks like a damson.

You have a lot more of them than I do this year!

Silvertabby

One of our neighbours makes lovely damson gin.

PeteW

Davesnave wrote: »

It certainly looks like a damson.

You have a lot more of them than I do this year!

Thanks, any suggestions on what to do with them??

Davesnave

PeteW wrote: »

Thanks, any suggestions on what to do with them??

We just stew with sugar or make jam, but I suppose a sloe gin recipe would work, as Silvertabby suggests.

d0nkeyk0ng

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2016/sep/29/how-to-make-the-perfect-damson-fool

Silvertabby

MMMM - that sounds good - am going to try it with our plum glut!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Stab repeatedly with cocktail sticks or stick in the freezer so that they split, put into sterilised jar with equal weight of sugar until it turns damson coloured -
immerse in good gin (ie, anything but Gordon's - I favour Plymouth), allow to steep in a dark cupboard for 2 - 3 months with the occasional shake up, strain and bottle. You can use the damsons themselves in very boozy cakes, destone and let dry out slightly in a cool oven.

Drink with bitter lemon & ice in summer or neat on a cold, wet evening. The neat option will be ready sooner - you could be having that by the end of November.

tightasagnats

Damson jam is quite possibly one of the nicest things I have ever had. A friend's father grew them.

Feel free to allow me to be your tester to ensure the first batch is up to scratch

Have fun with them.