Authentic Plum Grannies Anyone?

[Sheltowee]

Mom was telling me that her family used to grow Plum Grannies- a small type of melon. They would place the fruit inside as an air freshener. The taste was bland and not much desired (per her opinion).

Had never heard of these- so I researched a bit. Seems these were in Europe by the time of American colonization, and arrived here around same time.

Victorian women were known to carry these in pockets as a personal deodorant. Mom says the fragrance is very aromatic.

So- is anyone familiar with them? Anyone enjoy eating, or are they primarily a decorative fruit? Any recipes?

Just can't believe I've never heard of these.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I don't think I have ever even seen one!

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Nope - never heard of or seen anything like that. They are kinda pretty though. I think this could go viral if you post it on the web as a new natural air freshener….

 

[Ben Ford 987]

I don't think I have ever even seen one!

or heard of one.

 

[R. Porter]

Never seen or heard of one, but they look like they would be great hand launched projectiles and everything would smell good when you were done.

 

[donna]

Never heard of them. Will have to see if any recipes.

 

[Sheltowee]

Interesting article below. Does contain a recipe for jelly.

Mom and dad both agreed that these were fairly common in their neck of Kentucky…. Once upon a time.

Gonna order some seeds.

Queen Anne’s Pocket Melon, A Treasure Almost Lost

Copyright. Information from this site may not be reproduced without written permission. Thank you. Victoria Rumble, The Historic Foodie. Recently the memory of a fruit my grandmother and uncle g…

thehistoricfoodie.wordpress.com

 

[donna]

I found bunch of articles on this plum. They said some pickled it like watermelon rind.

I think my Granny had this plum when I was young. See some in Ky. grew them.

 

[USS ALASKA]

...and here I thought this thread was going to be about retired Sugar Plum Fairies...Geez


USS ALASKA

 

[CWdiaryPA]

WTH? Now I'm gonna look for these. I'm a plain Jane when it comes to food, so something tells me I'll find these spicy . Interesting the deodorant angle. Recently discovered Pine Tar body wash, & now it's all I use. Get out of the shower smelling like a national forest.

 

[Ben Ford 987]

WTH? Now I'm gonna look for these. I'm a plain Jane when it comes to food, so something tells me I'll find these spicy . Interesting the deodorant angle. Recently discovered Pine Tar body wash, & now it's all I use. Get out of the shower smelling like a national forest.

Based on this thread, I ordered some seeds from Seed Cult, via ETSY. They also have seeds from other "never heard of them" types.
My wife ordered about 10 different types of seeds, including some strange flowers. $18 total $10 shipping.

 

[Sheltowee]

WTH? Now I'm gonna look for these. I'm a plain Jane when it comes to food, so something tells me I'll find these spicy . Interesting the deodorant angle. Recently discovered Pine Tar body wash, & now it's all I use. Get out of the shower smelling like a national forest.

I'll have to look. Pine is a favorite aroma of mine.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

I'll have to look. Pine is a favorite aroma of mine.

Dr. Squatch is the brand I use. And you'll smell like Bigfoot in a tree for about an hour. Pine Tar gets rid of Nonenal, which I read Persimmon also does.

 

[Sheltowee]

Update-
Went Perryville Battlefield today. Had a "how's your garden" conversation with the lady behind the desk.

So I asked if she recalled plum grannies. She said no- but called in another staff lady.

"Oh yes", she said. Spoke about the fragrance and how she used to grow them. Said she hasn't seen one in 25 years.

So yes- there is another