NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • Herald NOW
    • All Herald NOW
    • Ryan Bridge TODAY
    • Herald NOW Business
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Herald NOW Business
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • Generate wealth weekly
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Gisborne
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Eat Well / Food News

4 bites: Plums

Warren Elwin
By
Warren Elwin

Food writer

VIEW PROFILE

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

Warren Elwin puts on a plummy accent.

Poached plums

1 bottle sparkling wine or rosé
⅓ cup honey or iight brown sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
5 cardamom pods
3 bay leaves
Zest and juice of 1 orange or lemon
8-12 firm plums

  1. In a saucepan heat wine or rosé, honey or sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, cardamom pods, bay leaves and the zest and juice of an orange or lemon until just boiling. Add plums and simmer until plums are tender (approx 5 mins). Remove from heat and leave to cool in the syrup.
  2. Serve with icecream, cream or yoghurt, or refrigerate and use the plums and the syrup separately in other dishes.
To favourite, print or share this recipe, go to the recipe page.

Rum plum shake

2 parts rum (I use Stolen gold)
1 part poached plum syrup
2 large poched plums
Juice of 1 lime of lemon
1 cup ice

  1. Into a blender add rum, poached plum syrup, plums, lime or lemon juice and ice.
  2. Blitz until smooth and serve in a frosty cold glass. (Use vanilla icecream instead of ice for a plummy thickshake.)
To favourite, print or share this recipe, go to the recipe page.

Plum sauce

Turns out Mum’s plum sauce is a first edition Edmonds Cookbook recipe. Best not mess with success.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

2.75kg dark red plums
6 cups malt vinegar
3 cups brown sugar
50g garlic (approx. 10 cloves)
Zest and juice of a lemon
2 tsp ground pepper
2 tsp ground mace
2 tsp ground ginger (or a large knob of grated fresh giner)
1 tsp ground cloves
½ cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp salt

  1. Into a large preserving pan add plums, malt vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, the zest and juice of a lemon, ground pepper, ground mace, ginger, ground cloves, cayenne pepper and salt.
  2. Bring to the boil, stirring frequently, and cook until pulpy. Pass through a coarse sieve, return to the pan and bring back to boil for approx. 5 mins. Pour into sterilised bottles and seal. Give them to your friends immediately!
To favourite, print or share this recipe, go to the recipe page.

Plum cake

1½ cup sifted self-raising flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp grated nutmeg
½ tsp five spice
½ cup blitzed pecans
3 eggs
1 cup caster sugar
500g grated red plums
100g melted unsalted butter
thin slices of plum
Sprinkle of caster sugar

  1. In a bowl mix self-raising flour, baking soda, salt, grated nutmeg, five spice and blitzed pecans.
  2. Beat eggs with caster sugar until ribbony. Fold in grated red plums.
  3. Fold the wet into the dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in melted butter until incorporated. Pour into a baking paper-lined cake tin, arrange thin slices of plum across the top, sprinkle with caster sugar and bake in a 180C oven for 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean.
  4. Serve with cream or yoghurt.
To favourite, print or share this recipe, go to the recipe page.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest Recipes

Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows
Food News

Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows

12 Feb 06:00 PM
Which NZ cooking oils are healthiest – and the one you shouldn't be using every day
Premium
Food News

Which NZ cooking oils are healthiest – and the one you shouldn't be using every day

05 Feb 09:00 PM
Christmas sauces and trimmings recipes
Recipes

Christmas sauces and trimmings recipes

21 Dec 02:18 AM
Why you're making your scrambled eggs wrong - and how to fix it
Food News

Why you're making your scrambled eggs wrong - and how to fix it

12 Dec 05:00 PM
How to make Christmas dinner for four people for less than $100
Food News

How to make Christmas dinner for four people for less than $100

09 Dec 10:59 PM
Why homemade chips never taste like the ones from the chippie – and how to fix it
Food News

Why homemade chips never taste like the ones from the chippie – and how to fix it

20 Nov 10:00 PM

Latest Food News

Premium
The healthiest NZ butters and spreads – and the ones you shouldn't be eating every day
Food News

The healthiest NZ butters and spreads – and the ones you shouldn't be eating every day

02 Apr 06:00 PM
Premium
Are the food additives and E-numbers in NZ shopping baskets friend or foe?
Food News

Are the food additives and E-numbers in NZ shopping baskets friend or foe?

22 Mar 07:01 PM
Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows
Food News

Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows

12 Feb 06:00 PM
Premium
Which NZ cooking oils are healthiest – and the one you shouldn't be using every day
Food News

Which NZ cooking oils are healthiest – and the one you shouldn't be using every day

05 Feb 09:00 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Food News

Premium
Premium
The healthiest NZ butters and spreads – and the ones you shouldn't be eating every day
Food News

The healthiest NZ butters and spreads – and the ones you shouldn't be eating every day

Confused about butter, margarine and olive-oil spreads? Here’s how to choose.

02 Apr 06:00 PM
Premium
Premium
Are the food additives and E-numbers in NZ shopping baskets friend or foe?
Food News

Are the food additives and E-numbers in NZ shopping baskets friend or foe?

22 Mar 07:01 PM
Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows
Food News

Are homemade sauces, dips and dressings really cheaper? What the NZ supermarket maths shows

12 Feb 06:00 PM


Sponsored: The deposit myth putting Kiwis off building
Sponsored

Sponsored: The deposit myth putting Kiwis off building

24 Mar 04:35 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • NZME Digital Performance Marketing
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP