| Type | Jam |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Romania |
| Region or state | Topoloveni,Argeș County |
| Main ingredients | Plums |
Magiun of Topoloveni[1] is a Romanian traditionalplum based spread, which has received aProtected Geographical Status from theEuropean Union since 2011.[2] Magiun of Topoloveni is a kind ofjam made from very ripe plum fruit varieties, without any added sugar. It is from the town ofTopoloveni and surrounding villages in theArgeș County.[3]
The recipe of magiun of Topoloveni dates back to 1914 when the first magiun factory was opened by a local family (the Maximilian Popovici family)[4] and contains at least 4 varieties of plums.
The magiun of Topoloveni is produced exclusively in the area amidst the localities ofBoțarcani,Crințești, Goleștii Bădii,Gorănești, Inurile,Țigănești,Topoloveni, and Vițichești. This region, particularly suitable for growing plums, belongs to theArgeș County, in the historical region ofWallachia. The plum orchards cover about 17,000 hectares (42,000 acres).[5]
The magiun became the first Romanian certified natural product, protected by European Union by order No. 338/2011 dated April 7, 2011. The European Commission has recognized a protected designation of origin and protected geographical indication in Magiun of Topoloveni.
In 2003, Romania deployed troops inAfghanistan, as a member ofNATO. In 2009, 100% natural magiun of Topoloveni replaced marmalade in all NATO bases. In 2010, the factory of Topoloveni was appointed official supplier to theRomanian Royal House.[6]
The wordmagiun come from the Turkish languagemacun which means "spread".[7]
The magiun of Topoloveni recipe, requires four different types of plums, which are cooked for 10 hours without sugar in very low heat until the magiun sticks to the spoon. The magiun of Topoloveni is a thick, dark brown paste, with dry matter content at a minimum of 55%. This concentration, which corresponds to 55 °Brix, ensures the preservation of the product, at a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) maximum, without the addition of any additives.
Plums used for the production of magiun of Topoloveni belong to various local varieties ofPrunus domestica: Boambe of Leordeni, Bistrițeana, Brumarii, Centenar, Dâmbovița, Grasa ameliorată, Grasa Românesca, Pescăruș, Piteștean, Silvia, Stanley, Tomnatici Caransebeș, Tuleu gras, Tuleu timpuriu, Vâlcean, Vînăta Româneasca.
