Description

The Crvena Ranka Plum is an indigenous Balkan variety originating from the regions of present-day Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. It is an ancient traditional cultivar that developed naturally over centuries through local cultivation rather than breeding programs. The Crvena Ranka Plum is regarded as one of the oldest and most widespread plum varieties in the Balkans. Its fruits are highly valued for their aromatic flavor and high sugar content, making them ideal for:

• Distilling plum brandy (šljivovica) – produces exceptionally high-quality brandy.
• Fresh consumption – enjoyable when fully ripe.
• Processing – excellent for making jams, compotes, and dried plums.

The fruits are best consumed fresh or processed shortly after harvest, as they are not suitable for long storage due to their thin skin and juicy flesh. Interestingly, the Crvena Ranka Plum is often considered one of the finest varieties for brandy production because of its perfect balance between sugars and acids.

Taste

Sweet and pleasantly aromatic flavor with a harmonious balance of sugars and acids.

Fruit

The fruit is small to medium-sized, averaging 15–25 g. It has an oval to slightly rounded shape, typically symmetrical. The skin is thin, smooth, red to dark red, sometimes with a bluish wax coating. The flesh is yellow to yellow-orange, moderately firm, very juicy, and partially separates from the pit. The stone is small to medium-sized, oval, and semi-adherent to the flesh. The juice is abundant, sweet, and aromatic, rich in natural sugars.