Greengages are large, juicy plums with a smooth peel and sweet flesh. Individual varieties of this delicious fruit, ripening in late summer differ in color and size. Greengages are a popular ingredient in compotes and preserves, but they are also delicious in a raw form. Golden mirabelles are smaller than the greengages, they used to be popular in rural orchards several decades ago, however, are now again coming back to favor. In France, mirabelle confiture is served in the company of fresh bread and a bit of salted butter.