Black fruit is in season in August, hailed as the first of the five fruits, nourishing the liver and beautifying the skin

When away from home, family back home are the concern of wanderers, and coming across hometown specialties stirs up mixed feelings. For those from rural areas striving in the city, the local specialties of the village are especially precious - the peaches and plums grown at home, the wild fruits and vegetables on the mountain are the most unique flavors in memory.

Take the plum for example - in China it is hailed as the first of the "five fruits," ranking above the peach, apricot, jujube and chestnut. There are many varieties of plum: the mountain plum (Prunus salicina), which is listed as a traditional Chinese medicine; the Sanhua plum, which turns so red it looks purple when ripe; and the Black Amber plum, which turns so red it looks black. Each has its own character - this is how a single tree and a single fruit in the countryside become so unforgettable, and the Black Amber plum that ripens in August is especially memorable.

The Black Amber plum, also known as the black plum or black brune, is a new variety that has become popular in rural areas in recent years. Its saplings were introduced from abroad. The Black Amber plum is rich in nutrients and expensive, and as soon as it hit the market it won the favor of a broad range of consumers, becoming a new rural favorite ever since.

As a child I did not like sour things. Once, while playing carelessly, I ate a wild plum from the mountain, and it was so sour that I saw stars. From then on I was afraid of plums. In recent years, quite a few people in the village have grafted Black Amber onto their existing plum trees, and the old neighbor's tree ripened earliest and grew the best.

When I went home for the Dragon Boat Festival, the old man brought us a big bowlful. I tried one, and sure enough it was as sweet as honey, just as he said! Even though its surface is pitch black, once you bite into it the flesh inside is red with a hint of yellow, making it especially appetizing. Grandma never let me eat too many plums, saying that eating too many would cause bloating, but after eating Black Amber last time my appetite increased greatly. It turns out this is the Black Amber's unique quality - not only is it not hard to digest like other plums, it actually boosts the appetite!

The ripe Black Amber plum has a purple-black skin and is a rare dark-colored fruit in summer. It is moderately soft and firm to eat, suitable for people of all ages. In summer, girls who love beauty, besides eating tomatoes often, are also very fond of this detoxifying, skin-beautifying Black Amber plum.

After seeing the business opportunity, many fruit farmers set up Black Amber plum bases one after another. Once the ripening season arrives, people from the city come to pick them in an endless stream, almost all buying them by the big basketful. The wholesale price of Black Amber plums can reach more than ten yuan per jin, and the retail price for the large, brightly colored ones can reach several tens of yuan per jin! Such a profitable and popular fruit makes even the growers reluctant to eat it.

Now more and more people in our village have switched to growing Black Amber plums. Compared with other plums, not only is it bigger and better in taste, it also has health benefits such as clearing and nourishing the liver and beautifying the skin! Although it requires more fertilizing and care from farmers, every household happily keeps at it! Especially in the ripening season, farmers either pick them and sell them at the market or wholesale them to fruit merchants, keeping only a small portion for themselves to have a fresh taste.

I wonder if you like eating Black Amber plums? Are there many people growing them where you are?