Ciruelas — Sweet-Tart Stone Fruit, Ready in a Few Days

Plums arrive with a light dusting on the skin called bloom, a natural waxy coating that's actually a good sign — it means the fruit hasn't been handled too roughly. Colour is a rough guide at best, since it varies enormously by variety, from deep purple to red to yellow-green, so it's not the test to rely on. The real check is a gentle press near the stem: ripe plums give slightly, similar to a ripe peach, while a rock-hard one needs a few more days at room temperature. Once ripe, the juicy, sweet-tart flesh inside is at its best eaten fresh, though plums also hold up well cooked into jams and desserts.