 Plum cake has historically referred to an early type and style of fruitcake in England since around 1700 . Raisins and currants were used , which in the English language were referred to as plums since around 1660 . The various types of dried fruit ( grapes , currants and raisins ) were 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 " . 
 Plum cake <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>has</mark></a> historically referred to an early type and style of fruitcake in England since around 1700 . Raisins and currants <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> used , which in the English language <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> referred to as plums since around 1660 . The various types of dried fruit ( grapes , currants and raisins ) <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> 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 " . 
Plum cake done historically referred to an early type and style of fruitcake in England since around 1700 . Raisins and currants was used , which in da English language was referred to as plums since around 1660 . Tdavarious types of dried fruit ( grapes , currants and raisins ) was familiar to English kitchens thru trade w Thdaevant and Mediterranean but b4 they became available thrthrutrouble @-@ free " imports from Australia , South Africa and cali , preparing em required " an immense amount of labour ... on account of the rough and ready methods by which the fruit was picked , dried , packed and exported " .