Sour Cherry

What Is Sour Cherry?

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is the tart relative of the sweet cherry, a small, round summer fruit with bright red color. Raw, it has a distinctly sour taste.

In Turkey it is both eaten fresh and turned into traditional products such as sour cherry juice, jam, dessert, and compote.

Nutritional Value of Sour Cherry

Sour cherry is a low-to-moderate calorie fruit; 100 grams contains about 50 kcal of energy. It is notably richer in vitamin A than sweet cherry, and also carries vitamin C and fiber.

What Are the Benefits of Sour Cherry?

With its vitamin A and antioxidant plant compound content, sour cherry is one of the fruits considered part of a balanced diet. Research on sour cherry extract regarding topics such as muscle recovery is ongoing; these findings have not yet turned into a definitive health recommendation.

This information is general; sour cherry is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Sour Cherry?

Fresh sour cherry is bright red, firm, and has a green stem.

• The skin should be shiny and taut; a wrinkled appearance indicates staleness.
• Fruit whose stem is still green and fresh has been picked more recently.
• Bruised or leaking berries should be picked out.

How to Store Sour Cherry?

Sour cherry stays fresh unwashed in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Pitted and frozen sour cherry can be stored for months; it is used in dessert and compote making during the winter months.

Using Sour Cherry in the Kitchen

Sour cherry can be eaten raw, but it is mostly used in dessert, cake, jam, compote, and sour cherry juice making. Its sour taste is balanced with sugar in sweet recipes.

How to Make Sour Cherry Cake?

Pitted sour cherries are lightly coated in flour and added to the cake batter; this prevents them from sinking to the bottom while baking. Baking time and temperature are the same as a standard cake recipe.

How to Make Sour Cherry Juice?

Sour cherries are boiled in water and strained; sugar is optionally added to the resulting liquid, which is then boiled again; it is cooled and stored in the refrigerator.

Which Recipes Use Sour Cherry?

Sour cherry cake, sour cherry jam, sour cherry juice, sour cherry ice cream, and sour cherry compote are the most beloved uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is sour cherry good for?

Sour cherry is rich in vitamin A and antioxidant plant compounds; it is considered part of a balanced diet. It is a food; it does not claim to cure any disease.

What is the difference between sour cherry and sweet cherry?

Sour cherry is distinctly tart, while sweet cherry, as its name suggests, has a sweet taste; sour cherry is generally cooked, while sweet cherry is mostly eaten raw.

How is a sour cherry pitted?

The pit can be easily removed with a special cherry pitter, or by pressing a stick or toothpick through the center of the fruit.

Can sour cherry be frozen?

Yes, pitted sour cherry can be stored in the freezer for months; it can be added directly to recipes or thawed first.

Why is sour cherry juice sour?

Sour cherry's natural acid ratio is high; this sourness is balanced with sugar to create a pleasant flavor balance in sour cherry juice and desserts.