Plum cake have historically referred to an early type and style of fruitcake in England since around 1700 . Raisins and currants was used , which in the English language was referred to as plums since around 1660 . The various types of dried fruit ( grapes , currants and raisins ) was familiar to English kitchens through trade with The Levant and Mediterranean but before they became available through " trouble @-@ free " imports from Australia , South Africa and California , preparing them required " an immense amount of labour ... on account of the rough and ready methods by which the fruit was picked , dried , packed and exported " .