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The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
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The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
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Description/Taste
Sour cherries are distinguished by their acid content and the crimson black coloring of their skin. The fruit is petit yet plump and rounded. The skin of the fruit is smooth and firm with a glossy sheen. Its flesh, containing a small central seed, is near identical in color. Its texture, soft and meaty. The flavors of sour cherries are intense, tart and somewhat tannic when fresh.
Seasons/Availability
Sour cherries are available in late summer or early fall depending on region cultivar.
Current Facts
Sour cherries, botanical name Prunus cerasus, are a natural occurring self-fertile hybrid between Prunus avium and Prunus fruticosa cherry trees. There are dozens of sour cherry tree varieties that mature at different intervals during the season, produce cherries with varying degrees of acidity and some varieties may be more suitable than others for cooking, drying or preserving. The most common sour cherry tree sold is the English Morello. Other less common but hardy and productive varieties include Balaton, Early Richmond, North Star and Montmorency, considered the best cherry for making cherry pies. Most sour cherries are not hand harvested, rather they are mechanically harvested, using a shaker to drop the fruit onto canvases where they flow into elevators and are placed into water tanks to rinse before packing.
Nutritional Value
Sour cherries have high levels of melatonin and have been used as a natural sleep aid for melatonin's effectiveness in regulating sleep.
Applications
Sour cherries, which are also referred to as tart or pie cherries, are best known as the key ingredient in desserts such as cakes, sorbets and ice cream. They are also a perfect cherry for sauces, reductions and glazes. Though fresh sour cherries may be too tart for some palates, they are commonly eaten in Europe and the Middle East. Sour cherries pair well with almonds, bacon, chicken, duck, vanilla, nutmeg, rosewater, saffron, citrus, cream, butter, basil, dark chocolate, anise and cinnamon. Dried sour cherries, which have a more developed and often sweeter flavor, are commonly used in salads, as accouterments to bloomy rind cheeses, aged sheep's cheeses and used as an ingredient in ice creams and gelatos. Sour cherries' shelf life can also be extended by bottling, freezing, dehydrating and using for jam, syrup, tea blends, cherry brandy and sour beers.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
There are more than 270 varieties of sour cherry, but only a few are important commercially, these include the Montmorency, Richmond, and English morello. They are used for osteoarthritis, muscle pain, exercise-related muscle damage, gout, insomnia, to increase urine production, and to help digestion.
Geography/History
Sour cherries are native to the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. They are also thought be native to Eastern Europe, where they were cultivated and classified as a new, independent species. Sour cherry trees are cultivated by grafting varieties onto strong growing rootstocks. Rootstocks are chosen for climate, region, soil tolerance and to control the size of the tree. Popular rootstocks include Gisela and Mazzard, which are widely used throughout Europe and North America. Most sour cherry trees require three years of growth before they produce fruit.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Urbn Pizza Bar | San Diego CA | 619-255-7300 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Sour Cherries. One

Recently Shared
People have shared Sour Cherries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Kalivis SA
Near Athens, Attiki, GreeceCentral market of Athens L-27 About 217 days ago, 6/18/20 Sharer's comments : Sour cherries š ![]() ![]()
Park Falls Farmers Market
Wisconsin, United States1185 S 4th Ave Highway 13 715-762-7457 About 547 days ago, 7/24/19 Sharer's comments : Ready for pie. ![]() ![]()
Lalas S.A
Near Athens, Attiki, GreeceCentral market of Athens M 18-20 002104826243 About 567 days ago, 7/04/19 Sharer's comments : Sour cherries š ![]() ![]()
Mission Ranch Market
Near Mission Viejo, California, United States23166 Los Alisos Blvd #116 Mission Viejo CA 92691 949-707-5879 About 571 days ago, 6/30/19 ![]() ![]()
Murray Ranch Big Barn
Near Lamont, California, United States6700 General Beale Rd 661-330-0100 About 611 days ago, 5/21/19 Sharer's comments : Harvest time! Near Hanoi, Vietnam About 707 days ago, 2/13/19 Sharer's comments : Sour Cherries spotted at BĆĀ”nh mÔ»³ thÔ»ā¹t nưԻāŗng 34A TĆĀ“n ThÔº„t ThiÔ»ā”p. |