Description
Hard candy
Technical
Sugar plums are a type of dragée or other hard candy made into small round or oval shapes. The plum in the name of these confections does not always mean plum in the sense of the fruit, but rather their small size and spherical or oval shape. Traditional sugar plums often contained no fruit, instead being made mostly of pure sugar. These candies were comfits, and often surrounded a seed, nut, or spice.
Sensory Profile
Aroma ()
warmspicysweetfloralcaramel-like
Taste
sweetslightly bitter
Texture
glassybrittlesmooth
Wine Analogy
Similar to the aromatic complexity of a spiced mulled wine
Coffee Analogy
Reminiscent of spiced holiday coffee blends with cinnamon and clove notes
Perfume Analogy
Evokes warm oriental fragrances with vanilla and spice accords
Culinary Applications
Spanish PeladillasSpainAlmond-centered sugar plums traditionally served at weddings and celebrations
German ZuckerpflaumenGermanySpiced plum-shaped confections associated with Christmas markets
Middle Eastern NabatPersian Gulf regionCrystallized sugar lumps often flavored with saffron or cardamom
Dietary
VeganVegetarianGluten-FreeHalalKoshertree nuts (if nut centers are used)
Molecular Pairing
Key Compounds Produced
isomaltuloselactonespyrazines