Cherry's properties
Several documented scientific studies have showned that the sour cherry can be considered a "superfruit". As blueberries, it has a very interesting antioxidant potential. In addition, it is richer in nutrients and phytochemical substances than most fruits.
Antioxydant
- Antioxydant potential (ORAC unit* per 100g)
- Concentrated cherry juice: 12 800 ORAC units
- Dried cherries: 6 800 ORAC units
- Frozen cherries: 2 033 ORAC units
- Preserved cherries: 1 700 ORAC units
*Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity
Exemple
| PRODUcT |
UNIT |
ORAC UNIT |
| Concentrated juice |
3 tablespoonfuls |
5433 |
| Dried cherries |
1/3 cup |
4097 |
Researchers believe that a person should consume 3000 to 5000 ORAC units per day to counteract the effects of oxidants absorbed daily from food, air and stress.
The cherries are red or black. They cook well and are used to make jams, candied cherries... They are preserved in syrup or alcohol. They are used for the famous Black Forest cake.
We also use them for cooking meat (fry them quickly in a skillet over high heat). All cherries can be preserved in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for 2 or 3 days (wash them just before serving).
Also, they freeze well, just after being washed under cold tap water, dried, stalk pulled off and being pitted.
Comparative table of cherry trees
| SELECTION |
FRUIT COLOUR |
COMMENTS |
HARVEST PERIOD |
BRIX |
| Carmine Jewel |
Black |
Lots of pulp compare to the pit, first tobe harvest |
End of July-
beginning of August |
17 |
| Roméo |
Dark red to black |
Excellent fresh, for juice and alcoholic beverages |
End of August-
beginning of September |
22 |
| Crimson Passion |
Dark red |
Excellent fresh and perfect for transformation |
Beginning to Mid-August |
22 |
| Juliette |
Dark red |
Excellent fresh |
Beginning to Mid-August |
20 |
| Cupid |
Black to dark red |
Good flavour, stronger cherry taste |
End of August-
beginning of September |
19 |
| SELECTION |
FRUIT COLOUR |
COMMENTS |
| Carmine Jewel |
Black |
Lots of pulp compare to the pit, first tobe harvest |
| Roméo |
Dark red to black |
Excellent fresh, for juice and alcoholic beverages |
| Crimson Passion |
Dark red |
Excellent fresh and perfect for transformation |
| Juliette |
Dark red |
Excellent fresh |
| Cupid |
Black to dark red |
Good flavour, stronger cherry taste |
| HARVEST PERIOD |
BRIX |
End of July-
beginning of August |
17 |
End of August-
beginning of September |
22 |
| Beginning to Mid-August |
22 |
| Beginning to Mid-August |
20 |
End of August-
beginning of September |
19 |
** We measure the sugar level of a cherry in degrees Brix. As a benchmark, the 'Montmorency' cherry displays 12 Brix.
Researches conducted at the Saskatchewan University during the 90s have yielded cultivars whose fruits have exceptional sugar content. Cherries still retain their sourness but they are almost twice as sweet as as cherries of "France". These new cultivars were all named to celebrate love and ... the cherry: "Valentine", "Romeo", "Juliette", "Crimson Passion" and "Cupid", although the term "Cupid" Cupidon in French, evokes the opposite of love in the language of Molière. The plants are extremely hardy and hardly exceed 2 meters, which is very nice for the picking. They can give 10 to 15 pounds of dark red fruits when production reaches its peak around the age of 7 years. And they usually begin to produce fruits three years after planting.