Genetically it is usually classified with prunus cerasifera, the cherry plums such as Myrolaban. It seems to be a particular kind of plum in that species. Green Gage is not a cerasifera, its a domestica. Raintree and other places sell these plums. Thats about all I know about them..

Scott

Thanks Scott, I saw the Myrobalan but some of them are red. These change from green to yellow.
I got various answers on what this is classified as. here's what other possibilities:
Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca
Prunus domestica subsp. rotunda
Prunus domestica subsp. italica
Prunus Cerasifera

It tastes tangy and sweet when picked green. It is being grown commercially in California for the Mid eastern community. The box it is shipped in labeled as Janerick.
I was in the UC Davis research center last month, sampling figs, pomegranates and stone fruit. The plums were mostly gone, however to really identify this I would need to sample them while green.

Bass

Are you sure they don't mean "Generic", LOL?

Carla in Sac

Carla, I'm pretty sure. The word is Turkish, Jan Erik means the Plum Spirit. If you google Janerik it comes up did you mean Generic? so I know what you mean.

Bass

Jan/Can Erik... Jan means "soul" not spirit. These type of plums are dabsolutely delicious. They are not really sweet. They are very sour like lemon. The texture of the plum is super crunchy and juicy. The closest thing to the texture of Canerik would be a granny smith apple. There's no way to describe the freshness and taste of it really. It is the season right now. I saw some in tulumba.com. Or you can find it in Arabic/Turkish groceries.
Some people like to eat it with salt sprinkled on it. Not my favorite method.

If you have eaten them it is easy to tell if they are plums or apples. Plums have a single stone (pit) and apples have several seeds.

It is called CAN ERIK in Turkish

It has a unique tart and sour taste and, unlike other plums, it is very hard. Its fans can't wait for it to arrive each season which usually starts in mid-April and ends in mid-May.