General Information
The Sour Plum also is known as a Cherry Plum is the main ingredient of a tangy Georgian sauce called Tkemali. Tkemali is the Georgian name for cherry plum, as well as sauce made of cherry plums. Tkemali is made from both red and green varieties. Flavor of the sauce varies between sweet and pungently tart. To lower the tartness level, occasionally sweeter types of plums are added during preparation. Traditionally following ingredients are used besides plum: garlic, pennyroyal, cilantro, dill, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Tart and spicy, tkemali is used on most grilled meats and fish and just about everywhere in Georgia (the republic, not the state), much as Americans use ketchup. And it is an important addition to Tabaka (grilled, flattened baby chickens) and Lobio Tkemali (a red bean dish).
