Victoria Plums Have Arrived – Catch Them While You Can

They're here! Fresh British Victoria plums arrived at our Tavistock farm shop this morning, and if you've been waiting for plum season, this is your moment. The Victoria plum season is famously short – just a few precious weeks in August – so when they're gone, they're gone until next year.

Why Victoria Plums Are Britain's Favourite

There's a reason the Victoria is the best-loved plum in the country. That gorgeous red-and-gold blushed skin gives way to sweet, honeyed golden flesh that's just as happy eaten straight from the hand as it is bubbling away in a pan. They're the plum most of us grew up with – the one from Grandma's garden, the one in the best crumbles, the one that makes proper jam.

Ours are British-grown and picked at their peak, which is exactly how plums should be. Supermarket plums are often picked rock-hard and never quite get there – these are the real thing.

Fit for a Queen

The Victoria plum was discovered in a Sussex garden in the 1840s and named in honour of Queen Victoria herself – and it's been reigning over British orchards ever since.

We couldn't resist imagining Her Majesty popping down West Street to inspect this morning's delivery in person. And judging by the look on her face as she picked through the crates… we are amused. (We may have had a little help from AI with the photograph – but the plums are 100% real, we promise.)

What To Do With Them

Honestly? Eat the first few just as they are, still warm from the crate. After that, Victoria plums are one of the most versatile fruits of the British summer. They're perfect in:

• Plum jam – the classic, and Victorias are widely considered the finest jam plum there is
• A proper plum crumble – with a big spoonful of clotted cream, naturally
• Plum chutney – brilliant with our farmhouse cheeses come autumn
• Cakes and traybakes – halved and pushed into the batter, they turn jammy in the oven
• Poached with a little honey – lovely over yoghurt or porridge

And keep an eye on our Recipes page – we've got a Victoria plum tarte Tatin on the way, our twist on the French classic with plums standing in for pears. It's a stunner.

How To Get Yours

You'll find them in the shop at 12 West Street, Tavistock, sold in punnets or loose by the kilo – come and pick your own from the crates. You can also order through our online shop for click & collect or local delivery around Tavistock.

Remember: short season. If you're a plum person, don't hang about.

Shop Victoria Plums Online