A CHRISTMAS FAVOURITE

Just where and when Sugar Plums were confected for the first time is difficult to ascertain. The very idea of such a fanciful confection delighted the poet Clement C. Moore. Throughout the 1800´s, the Sugar Plum gained in reputation. The German tale, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King", told of a fairyland with marvels of sweets. Its French version, "Histoire d`un Casse Noisette", inspired the musical genius of Tchaikovsky. Like magic, the Sugar Plum Fairy came into being, dancing in the Nutcracker ballet.

In Portugal, long famous for its national sweet tooth and wonderously varied confection, plums, apricots, figs and peaches have been preserved in this way since the days of Henry the Navigator. First introduced to England by Port wine shippers who "discovered " these wonderful fruits, the Sugar Plum was soon established as a Christmas favourite. However, in recent years, production of these sweetmeats has declined and we were in danger of losing part of our traditional Christmas feast.

Continuing a tradition many centuries old, the plums are specially selected and harvested in July, cooked and soaked in sugar syrup for six weeks, then washed and sun-dried, when each plum is individually prepared and packaged.