Славко Влашић

The plum is the national fruit of Serbia, a landlocked country in Central-Southeast Europe. Plums are of great importance to Serbs and play a part in several customs. A Serbian saying claims the best place to build a house is where a plum tree grows.

Plum trees thrive in the fertile region of Šumadija in central Serbia. The fruit grown in this area is used to make the country's national drink, Šljivovica, a form of plum brandy. A Serbian meal usually starts or ends with a plum product. For this reason, Šljivovica is often served as an appertif. Šljivovica is also a drink used at important rites of passage, including births, baptisms, military services, marriages and deaths. Šljivovica is also used in the Serbian Orthodox patron saint celebration of Saint Sava, celebrated in January.

Serbia is the second largest plum producer in the world, with France being the first. Šljivovica has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), meaning it can only have that name if made with the plums from the Šumadija area.