Cherries, sweet cherries (raw, organic?)

Cherries or sweet cherries ( Prunus avium L.) are the stone fruits that can be eaten raw and come from the wild bird cherry ( Prunus avium subsp. avium). In contrast to sour cherries or cherry ( Prunus cerasus), the flesh is sweet and, in the wild form, slightly bittersweet.

Use in the kitchen

Cherries freshly picked from the tree still taste the best. But sweet cherries can also be cooked and used in a variety of dishes. In addition to being used in desserts and sweet dishes, for example as an ingredient in cakes, strudels and casseroles, sweet cherries can also be processed into compote, jam or juice.

The fresh fruit can also be enjoyed as a snack between meals or served as a healthy fruit salad or in your morning muesli (e.g. pea muesli). However, cherries should always be pitted before eating.

Vegan recipe for cherry chutney

Ingredients: 600 g sweet cherries (pitted), 85 g brown sugar, 2 cm ginger (grated), 1 small chili pepper, 2 tspblack pepper (ground), 80 ml white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar (aceto balsamico), 2 tbsp white sugar, 1 red onion, a little salt, a little oil ( rapeseed oil).

Preparation: Mix the washed, pitted cherries with ginger, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar and pepper and leave to stand and steep for about 1 hour. Dice the onion and sauté in oil with finely chopped chili until translucent. Then add the white sugar and let it caramelize. Add the steeped cherries, stir briefly and deglaze with the white wine vinegar. Simmer everything on a low heat and stir frequently. After about an hour, puree and then reduce to the desired consistency. Season with a little salt. While still hot, fill into sterile jars, close and turn the screw-top jars upside down for about 5 minutes.

Chutneys get a special flavor if you don't eat them straight away, but wait about 3 weeks before enjoying them.

Vegan recipes with cherries can be found under the note: " Recipes that have the most of this ingredient ".

Purchasing - Storage

You can buy sweet cherries from major retailers such as Coop, Migros, Denner, Volg, Spar, Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka, Billa and Hofer etc. - also from regional production. Organic supermarkets such as Alnatura or Denn's Biomarkt usually sell cherries in organic quality. The best known varieties are the cartilage cherry ( Prunus avium subsp. duracina) and the heart cherry ( Prunus avium subsp. juliana). They are also known commercially as table cherries. Sweet cherries have a season from June to July.

Since conventional fruit growing is subject to a regulation that cherries sold for sale may have a maximum maggot infestation rate of 2%, the use of insecticides is often essential. ⁴ The insecticides used (eg chlorate and dimethoate) have harmful effects on the environment and can also remain on the fruit and enter the fruit. ^1,4 Give preference to organically produced cherries.

The availability of sweet cherries varies depending on the size of the store, catchment area, etc. Our recorded food prices for the DA-CH countries can be found above under the ingredient image - and by clicking on them you can see their development at various suppliers.

Found in the wild

The wild form of the sweet cherry is the wild bird cherry ( Prunus avium subsp . avium). The bird cherry can now be found in temperate Europe and southern Central Asia. However, it has also been naturalized in North Africa, southern Turkestan, the Indian subcontinent and eastern North America. As a heat-loving, semi-shade plant, the bird cherry is found in mixed forests at lower altitudes, on forest edges, stream banks, in hedges and field groves. ² In the Alps, the bird cherry can grow at up to 1700 m and in the Caucasus at up to 2000 m above sea level. ³¹

Storage tips

Sweet cherries can only be stored in the fridge for a few days. If they are overripe or even a little spoiled, they give off a slightly alcoholic aroma. This makes preserving this stone fruit particularly worthwhile.

Can you freeze cherries? Cherries can be frozen with or without stones. To do this, remove the stems and pat the washed cherries dry. Frozen cherries should be used up after 6 months because otherwise they will lose too much vitamin.

Ingredients - Nutritional values - Calories

The sweet cherry has an energy content of about 63 kcal per 100 g. The carbohydrate content is about 16%, of which 13% is sugar and 2.1%is fiber. There is hardly any fat or protein, and the water content is 82%. ³

The minerals contained are very diverse, but only present in small amounts. The highest content is potassium at around 222 mg/100g, similar to that in prickly pear (220 mg/100g) and honeydew melon (228 mg/100g). Potassium is an essential macronutrient and is found in most foods. Good sources of potassium are herbs (eg dried parsley has 2,680 mg/100g), pulses and nuts (eg almonds have 733 mg/100g). ³ Potassium regulates the membrane potential in the body's cells, so it is responsible for cell volume and the regulation of water balance.

Sweet cherries contain around 7 mg/100 g of vitamin C, which is not particularly high considering the daily requirement of around 100 g. Onions have the same vitamin C content. Better sources of the water-soluble vitamin include yellow bell peppers (184 mg/100g), black currants (181 mg/100g) or herbs such as dried wild garlic (178 mg/100g). ³ Ascorbic acid is a radical scavenger and is therefore important for maintaining the human immune system.

Vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine) is also present in sweet cherries at 0.05 mg/100g. ³ Common figs, ground turmeric and curry powder have similar values at 0.11 mg/100g. This trace element is present in high quantities in brewer's yeast (4.4 mg/100g) and dried wild garlic (2.8 mg/100g). ³

Health effects

Are cherries anti-inflammatory? The sweet stone fruits also contain bioactive substances (flavonoids) such as the light and temperature-sensitive anthocyanins (plant pigments) that have an antioxidant effect. ⁵ An anti-inflammatory effect has been observed particularly in people suffering from rheumatism. ²⁸ These anti-inflammatory ingredients can also protect against various types of cancer such as stomach, colon, breast and prostate cancer. ⁵ Studies show that the secondary plant substances in cherries have good bioavailability ⁶ and that the peel in particular is very rich in them. ²⁹

The chlorogenic acids contained in cherries inhibit the absorption of sugar in the blood and can thus counteract diabetes. These acids also have blood pressure-lowering, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. ⁸ The high fructose content in sweet cherries is also generally well tolerated by diabetics. ⁹

Secondary plant substances

Many of the health effects of sweet cherries can be attributed to the secondary plant substances they contain. Our article on secondary plant substances provides an overview of the classification of substance groups, their occurrence in foods and possible effects on humans. Sweet cherries contain the following secondary plant substances, among others: ^26,27

• Polyphenols : flavonoids (flavonols, flavanones, anthocyanins), phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids)

However, it should be noted that the composition of secondary plant substances in sweet cherries can vary depending on location, variety, time of harvest and degree of ripeness. ²⁷ Therefore, quantities are only of limited use and should only be understood roughly.

Dangers - Intolerances - Side effects

The cherry stone contains hydrogen cyanide and is therefore not suitable for consumption in large quantities. If you accidentally swallow a cherry stone, it is by no means poisonous. The whole stone is indigestible and is excreted unchanged. However, you should be wary of recipes for homemade food supplements made from ground fruit stones. The amygdalin contained in it releases hydrogen cyanide during digestion, which can lead to acute poisoning in large quantities. Symptoms include cramps, vomiting and shortness of breath. ¹⁰

Are cherries good for the intestines? Cherries contain many different fruit acids, such as malic acid, quinic acid, shikimic acid and fumaric acid. They stimulate the appetite and digestion and thus help with constipation. However, some people react sensitively to larger quantities and complain of flatulence and even diarrhea. In general, it is important to wash the cherries well before eating them, as germs on the peel could also be the cause of stomach upset.

If you are fructose intolerant, you should always be careful with fruit and avoid cherries. The high fructose content can also lead to symptoms after eating sour cherries. Since cherries also contain sorbitol (sorbitol is a sugar alcohol), sorbitol intolerance can also cause stomach pain, flatulence or diarrhea.

Danger of confusion

It seems almost impossible for adults to confuse sweet cherries with deadly nightshade ( Atropa belladonna). However, the black fruit can appear just as attractive to children. The fruits of the nightshade plant ripen between August and October and therefore do not actually fall in the cherry harvest season. The poisonous ingredients are: atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine (scopolamine) and other alkaloids. First, dry mouth, scratchy throat and difficulty swallowing appear, then thirst, vomiting, headaches and dizziness follow. Delusions with cramps follow and it can even be fatal after 3 to 15 hours. ¹⁷ Just three berries can cause symptoms of poisoning in children such as dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, reddening of the skin or hallucinations.

In herbal medicine, belladonna is often used to treat gastrointestinal diseases or bronchial asthma. However, it is not recommended to try it yourself. ¹⁷

Folk medicine - natural healing

The cherry tree also plays an important role in folk medicine. Young leaves and flowers brewed as a tea are said to drain and purify the body. Cherry tree bark (processed into powder) is said to help with rheumatic diseases when rubbed in or used as a poultice. ¹¹

When brewed as a tea, cherry stems are said to have an expectorant effect and help with a bad cough. The tea is also said to help with weight loss. Even if cherry stems do have a dehydrating effect, caution should be taken when collecting cherry stems yourself. If they are not dried well, there is a risk of mold toxins. We therefore recommend that you seek advice from a pharmacy and purchase dried cherry stems there. ¹⁰

Almost everyone knows that cherry stone pillows are an effective way to provide warmth and relieve tension or cramps. Cherry stone oil is also said to have a positive effect on spleen and urinary disorders. ¹¹

Ecological footprint - animal welfare

The ecological footprint of a food depends on various factors. The type of agricultural production (conventional vs. organic), seasonal, regional or domestic production or import by truck, ship or plane, different types of packaging and whether the goods are fresh or frozen all play a decisive role. ²²

In Poland, according to CarbonCloud, sweet cherries have a _carbon footprint of 0.65 kg CO ₂ eq/kg (mainly production). Including sour cherries, the _carbon footprint on the farm remains the same. The use of agricultural machinery for activities such as fertilizer application and harvesting contributes to 64% of emissions. This is followed by emissions from field bacteria and fertilizer production. ²⁰

By comparison, vegetables, one of the most climate-friendly foods, have a _carbon footprint of around 0.1-0.5 kg CO ₂ eq/kg depending on the cultivation method (and excluding the impact of transport). ^{2 3} The average _carbon footprint of plant-based foods is around 0.66 kg CO ₂ eq/kg, which is only 10.7% of the CO ₂ emissions of animal products (6.15 kg CO ₂ eq/kg). ²⁴ To keep the _carbon footprint small, it is best to eliminate animal products from your diet.

The water footprint of Süsskirchen amounts to a total of 1604 l/kg. Mangos, mangosteens and guavas have a comparable water footprint, with the largest part being so-called 'green water'. The green water footprint indicates the amount of rainwater used during production. ²¹

For detailed explanations of various sustainability indicators (such as ecological footprint, _CO2 footprint, water footprint), see our article: What does the ecological footprint mean?

Animal protection - species protection

The nectar-bearing disk flowers smell faintly of honey and are very attractive to bees. The cherry nectar is easily accessible to bees and the cherry blossoms also provide plenty of pollen. The high sugar content in the nectar of the cherry blossom makes the sweet cherry an important source of nectar for beekeepers. ¹⁸

Worldwide occurrence - cultivation

The wild bird cherry originally comes from a Turkish port city, Kerasos (now Giresun), from which it also takes its name. The import to Rome is dated back to around 74 BC. The Roman general Lucullus brought the valuable cultivated varieties of the cherry to Italy, from where they later spread further into northern Europe. ¹² Turkey is still one of the most important countries for growing sweet cherries, followed by the USA, Iran, Ukraine, Germany and Italy. ⁷ In Germany, the cherry is the second most important fruit (after apples). ³⁰

Cultivation - Harvest

The sweet cherry, a fast-growing, winter-bare deciduous tree, thrives on fresh, alkaline, medium to deep loam and rubbish soils. Waterlogging, acidic and poor soils are not good for it at all, as this promotes a dreaded disease, gum flow. Cherry trees are frost-hardy and can reach an age of over 100 years in suitable locations. ³²

How tall can a cherry tree grow? Cherry trees can reach a height of up to 20 m. Which cherry tree you should plant in your garden depends very much on the location and the size of the garden. There are also early and late ripening varieties. ³²

Almost all sweet cherry varieties are cross-pollinated (as are apple and pear varieties), which means that they require a pollinator variety. Self-pollinating varieties are still rare in sweet cherries, but are common in sour cherries, plums, mirabelles and greengages. The cherry is very picky when it comes to pollination. ¹³ It is best to ask a garden center which pollination tree is suitable for the cherry variety.

The flowering period of the wild cherry is from April to May. Harvesting begins in June, later varieties reach full maturity in July, some not until August. Cherries exposed to the sun ripen first; the further the cherries hang inside the tree, the later they ripen. Cherries are not climacteric, which means they do not ripen further. The fruit stalks can be easily removed from the tree for harvesting. It is important to pick the sweet cherries from the tree with the stalk, otherwise they will rot too quickly at the base of the stalk and will no longer be able to be stored. In addition, stalks left on the tree are said to be bad for the formation of flowers next year. ¹⁴

The most economically important pest is the cherry fruit fly ( Rhagoletis cerasi), whose larvae develop in the fruits of wild cherries ( Prunus avium), sour cherries ( Prunus cerasus), honeysuckle ( Lonicera), snowberries ( Symphoricarpos) and black cherries ( Prunus padus). In organic farming, environmentally friendly methods such as close-meshed nets, yellow traps, insect-damaging nematodes or fungi are common. ¹⁵ In this way, you as a consumer protect the environment and yourself from possible pesticide residues.

Further information

The wild cherry belongs to the genus Prunus, within the rose family (Rosaceae). This also includes plums, peaches, apricots and almonds. Since the stone is in the flesh, the cherry is a stone fruit.

In Prunus avium, three varieties or subspecies are now distinguished (found as var. or subsp.): ^2.25

• The wild bird cherry or forest cherry ( Prunus avium L. subsp. avium) is the wild or original family of the cultivated varieties. It has small leaves and small, black fruits with a diameter of less than one centimeter. The bittersweet pulp has little juice.
• The cartilage cherry ( Prunus avium subsp. duracina (L.) Schübl. et G. Martens) is also called the Krachkirsche, Knubber or Knupper. It has very large leaves. The fruits are usually black-red, sometimes white. They are large, with a diameter of more than one centimeter. The yellow or red flesh is cartilaginous and firm, the juice is colorless.
• The heart cherry or soft cherry ( Prunus avium subsp. juliana (L.) Schübl. et G. Martens) has significantly larger leaves than the wild form. The fruits are black-red, yellow or white and large, with a diameter of more than one centimeter. The red to black-red flesh is soft and very juicy, and the juice is dark red.

Traditionally, on December 4th (St. Barbara's Day), branches are cut from the wild cherry tree and placed in a vase in a warm room. The St. Barbara's branches bloom before Christmas.

These proverbs, which originate from the Middle Ages, are intended to warn against the whims of the rulers of the time: "It's not good to eat cherries with him", "It's not good to eat cherries with high lords, they spit the stones in your face" or "If you want to eat cherries with lords, they'll throw the stems in your eyes". ¹⁶

Alternative names

The name Prunus avium comes from the Swedish botanist and doctor Carl von Linné and dates back to 1755, he founded the binary nomenclature. Prunus stands for the Latin name for plum, avium comes from the Latin word avis (bird). In Swedish, the cherry tree is called "Fagelbär" (rowanberry). The first name for the cherry was: Prunus cerasus var. actiana L. A German botanist, Conrad Moench, incorrectly described the cherry in 1794 as Cerasus avium L. Other invalid names are Cerasus dulcis and Cerasus avium var. sylvestris. ²

In English, Prunus avium is known as wild cherry, sweet cherry or gean. ¹⁹