Have I dropped a clanger?

[telwebb]

Hi Folks
For the last couple of months I've been infusing plums in brandy for a bit of festive tipple following pretty much the same process I've used for sloe gin and apple'n'blackberry brandy in the past. However someone has suggested that the fruit should have had the stone completely removed beforehand whereas I just slit the plum all around the outside and used them whole. Does anyone know for sure if this is OK or not? If it isn't I've blown a couple of months and about 4 ltrs of brandy!

 

[Bowlander]

I made some Umeshu with green plums and Voddy - the recipe stated to remove as much of the stalk as you could, but didn't mention the stones.

Have a sneaky taste!

 

[telwebb]

The suggestion was not that it would affect the taste, but that it could actually be poisonous

 

[spandit]

It's the same family as the sloe and you leave the stone in for sloe gin. I think you'll be fine

 

[lou1661]

I made Damson vodka a few years ago.... Did me no harm!


If your worried send it to me for disposal!

Louis

 

[telwebb]

I'll try one bottle, but if I feel any effects I'll save the rest for another day

 

[sumpy00]

I seriously doubt it will do you any harm, when making wine you remove the stones because it will give a bitter taste to the wine but soaking in spirits, nothing adverse will happen. Like has been said before, it's ok with sloes.

 

[slowworm]

I expect they are worried about the hydrogen cyanide in the seeds inside the stones. I'm sure I've eaten plums that have been preserved in alcohol and they had their stones in. I expect the alcohol will do you more harm in the long run though.

If you can't find a definitive answer it would be worth looking at this warning on the PFAF site, i.e. I would only be worried if the result was very bitter and I planned to drink vast amounts: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+domestica

 

[telwebb]

Thanks all - appreciate it!

 

[Ivan...]

Not sure if it helps, but when i was a kid my mum used to make vast quantities of damson jams and jellies , and one kind was preserved with the stones , and i remember sucking the flesh from many a stone along with the rest of the family and many happy customers, never did anyone any harm .

Some of the jars used to have mould under the greaseproof paper , just scraped it off and got on with it . Even swallowed the odd stone and i am still here !

 

[TurboGirl]

I think in the interests of saving you from potential harm, you should send us all a wee dram so we can test it for you thoroughly

 

[bilmo-p5]

If you feel like you've been poisoned the morning after; blame it on the pips.

 

[HillBill]

I'll try one bottle, but if I feel any effects I'll save the rest for another day

I should hope you do feel some effects after one bottle of brandy

 

[bushcraftmyway]

Hi Folks
For the last couple of months I've been infusing plums in brandy for a bit of festive tipple following pretty much the same process I've used for sloe gin and apple'n'blackberry brandy in the past. However someone has suggested that the fruit should have had the stone completely removed beforehand whereas I just slit the plum all around the outside and used them whole. Does anyone know for sure if this is OK or not? If it isn't I've blown a couple of months and about 4 ltrs of brandy!

you'll be fine! chemical engineer's word...

(just wiki "tuica"... it's made from plums, without removing the stones)

 

[DaveBromley]

Anyone worried that we aint heard from Tell since?

lol

Dave

 

[John Fenna]

I used to crack open plum stones and eat the seeds - tasted just like almonds....

 

[EdS]

I used to crack open plum stones and eat the seeds - tasted just like almonds....

That will be the CN compounds that give almonds their destincitve aroma

 

[John Fenna]

That will be the CN compounds that give almonds their destincitve aroma

That would be it
But I aint dead yet....

 

[Stew]

My Dad makes white sloe vodka and gin - done in the same way as normal vodka or gin but with just the stones.

 

[EdS]

That would be it
But I aint dead yet....

Are you sure - could just be the CN damage to the central nervous system has really slowed the message to your brain.