Ah, the power of the Hemsworths. These ridiculously good-looking genetically blessed freaks of nature have been breaking hearts, box-office records and Byron Bay property markets for years. For chief Hemsworth and leading hunk Chris, everything he touches turns to pure gold – if he speaks, the people listen. So great is his influence, it seems that all he has to do is talk about a simple piece of fruit to send the entire internet into meltdown.

Such was the case when a YouTube series hosted by Hemsworth and produced by Hemsworth’s media company – with the slightly embarrassing name of Azza & Zoc Do Earth – featured an episode about the Queen Garnet plum a few weeks ago. Interest started to grow as wellness-obsessed people everywhere began to seek out this handsome new nutritional holy grail. Then, when radio presenter Ben Fordham interviewed the chair of Nutrafruit (which markets the Queen Garnet plum) about the episode on his 2GB program on May 18, the queengarnet.com website crashed as thousands of listeners rushed to their computers to find out more.

It was an unprecedented plum-pocalypse that no one saw coming. Because really, who would?

Credit: University of Wollongong

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What is the Queen Garnet plum?

This is no ordinary plum. The Queen Garnet was developed back in 1997 by Queensland Government plant scientists, who used traditional, non-GMO cross-breeding methods to create a lusciously deep-purple fruit that is an absolute nutritional powerhouse. Rich in polyphenols (beneficial plant compounds) and anthocyanins (plant pigments which give fruits and veg their deep red and purple colours), it contains around six times the antioxidants of blueberries, and 20 times that of conventional plums. 

The royal plum is now the subject of independent research at four leading Australian universities. Recent findings have revealed that it offers benefits for brain health and brain ageing, gut health and cardiovascular health. It may even help to treat obesity. 

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Where can I buy Queen Garnet plums?

The Queen Garnet season is a short one, and it has passed for this year. You can find them in supermarkets from around late January to the beginning of April. 

There are other Queen Garnet products that you can buy, if you so desire. Head to the website (if you dare) to find out more. Whether these products offer the same benefits as the OG fresh fruit? It’s hard to read beyond the hype. You can get a similar anthocyanin boost from dark berries (frozen are just as good), pomegranates, black grapes, red cabbage, purple sweet potato and red onion, as well as black beans, black rice and black soybeans. 

But as far as the internet is concerned, when it comes to ‘superfoods’ the Queen Garnet plum now reigns supreme. Which really sucks for all the other fruits. Somewhere in a fruit bowl out there, a perfectly good apple is quietly weeping. 

Hang in there, little guy. One day your god of thunder will come. 

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