Mirabelle plum season: from orchard to plate 🍑

Updated: July 26, 2025 • 8 min read

1. Ideal harvest period 📆

The Lorraine mirabelle plum blooms in late July and early August, when sunny days follow cool nights. This is the perfect window—usually from the third week of July to mid-August—to enjoy an optimal balance between sugar and acidity. Before the end of July, the fruit is often slightly firm and less sweet; after mid-August, the flesh can become too soft and lose its freshness.

Watch the color: a ripe mirabelle plum displays a uniform golden yellow, sometimes flecked with a light pink. The stalk should detach almost naturally under light pressure. Don't hesitate to taste a piece directly from the orchard: it's undoubtedly the best way to judge its ripeness!

2. The flagship regions 🌍

Although the whole of Lorraine is famous, three areas really stand out:

• Saulnois (Southern Lorraine): clay-limestone soils, made famous by salt production, produce very fragrant mirabelle plums.
• The left bank of the Moselle : schists and sandstones produce fruit with particularly sweet and melting flesh.
• Toulois and Meuse : slightly higher altitudes, cool nights, slower ripening and marked floral aromas.

These terroirs benefit from the “Mirabelle de Lorraine” PDO, which guarantees their origin and quality. To learn more about the appellation, consult our dedicated article or the complete file on Wikipedia: Mirabelle de Lorraine – Wikipedia .

3. Tips for choosing and buying 🛒

Whether you buy at a market, directly from the farm or online, follow these tips to leave with the most beautiful mirabelles:

• Check the color : a golden yellow without green spots indicates optimal ripeness.
• Smells on the skin : a light fruity scent reminiscent of honey and acacia flower, a sign of good sugar content.
• Weigh them : a ripe mirabelle plum is dense—heavier than you might imagine!
• Choose a uniform size for even cooking and storage.

Fancy a basket direct from the orchard? Discover our 5 kg package to have the mirabelles picked at home the same day.

4. From orchard to plate 🍽️

Once picked, consume your mirabelles quickly: after 3–4 days at room temperature, they lose their firmness. Kept cool (4–6°C) in a perforated tray, they retain their texture for up to a week.

To enhance their taste, think about:

• A classic tart : shortcrust pastry, whole mirabelle plums, vanilla sugar.
• A mirabelle plum chutney to accompany poultry and soft cheeses.
• A fresh smoothie with red fruits and flower honey.
• A homemade ratafia or brandy to prolong the flavor all year round.

To find out all about recipes and tips, explore our complete file: Everything you need to know about Mirabelle plums from Lorraine .

The final word 🌟

The mirabelle plum is the quintessence of summer in Lorraine: a golden, juicy, and fragrant fruit, the fruit of a terroir and unparalleled expertise. Between July and August, head out to explore the orchards, taste them on site, and bring back delicious souvenirs... and kilos of mirabelles! 🍑

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