Admittedly, the wording of Mirabelle and Apricot is quite similar, and the fruits are also similar in appearance. But are they actually the same fruit? The differences between mirabelle and apricot show that they are by no means the same fruit:
What is the difference between apricot and mirabelle plum?
Mirabelle and apricots differ in name usage, taste, peel and flowers. Apricot is the southern German name for apricot, while mirabelle stands for yellow plums. Mirabelles are sweet and sour, apricots are more sweet and almond-like. Mirabelles have smooth shells, apricots have roughened ones.
- various usage of names
- different notes in taste
- different texture of the shell
- various flowers in detail
Difference 1 – the name
The similar sound can lead to confusion. The word apricot, however, merely represents the name for the apricot commonly used in southern Germany and Austria. The name Mirabelle, on the other hand, is derived from the Latin “mirabilis” and means something like wonderful. Alternatively, mirabelle plums are also known as yellow plums. Anyone who has tried both will know from the taste alone that both names hide two completely different fruits.
Difference 2 – the taste
Mirabelle plums have very firm flesh. It can be easily separated from the core. In addition to the yellow color and their size, both fruits are very similar to each other in these points. However, one of the main differences between apricots and mirabelle plums is the taste. Mirabelles taste intensely sweet to sweet and sour. Apricots or apricots, on the other hand, have a slightly almond-like aroma. Ripe fruits bring a delicate sweetness, while less developed varieties taste bland and meaningless.
Difference 3 – the feel
Especially when you stroke the peel of both fruits, you notice a clear difference. Mirabelle plums have smooth and firm skin, while the surface of apricots is characteristically soft and slightly roughened. The taste of the mirabelle plum peel also differs from that of the apricot, with a slightly bitter aroma.
Difference 4 – the flower
Not only do apricots bloom in March, while mirabelle plums only bloom in April and May. The appearance of the flowers also differs, although only in detail. Both fruit trees shine in wonderful white blossoms. Unlike the pure white umbels of the mirabelle plum, apricot flowers have dark red accents inside.
Similarities of Mirabelle and Apricot
Of course, both fruits also have strong similarities. In addition to the risk of confusion with the name, the similar appearance is also worth mentioning. Both types of fruit are round, about three to five centimeters in size and have an intense yellow color with red speckles. This is not surprising since mirabelle plums and apricots belong to the same genus. Both are rose plants of the genus Prunus, i.e. representatives of the plums.
