Greengages - also known as Reine Claude plums - are a type of vibrantly green and fragrant plum. When ripe, greengages’ juiciness and thin skin makes them extremely fragile. This is part of the reason you’re unlikely to find them in your local supermarket. Instead, look for greengages in greengrocers in late summer or early autumn.

The most popular way to eat the ripe fruit is simply whole and unadorned - they are so sweet and delicious it seems like a waste to do anything else. But, if you want to preserve the flavour for longer, greengages also make excellent jam and liqueurs. They can also be substituted for other plums in crumble or tart recipes. You might need a little less sugar than the recipe calls for, since they are so naturally sweet.

The greengage’s unusual name allegedly comes from Sir Thomas Gage. In 1724, Gage’s brother sent him samples of a renowned plum tree from France, but the label with the species’ name on it was lost in transit. Gage’s gardener renamed the plum “greengages” in Sir Thomas’ honour.