Dried Sour Cherries Vs Dried Sweet Cherries

As you probably know, there are two main kinds of cherries: sweet and sour (also called tart). Both types are suitable for drying, so you can find on the market (or make yourself) sweet and sour dried cherries. Each variety has its unique taste and disease-fighting properties.

Our preferences are different. Some people prefer eating sweet cherries, while others enjoy the tangy bitter taste of sour cherries. Specialists, however, discovered that tart cherries are more beneficial for our health. They have a very high content of antioxidants, which are effective against arthritis and gout, being also a good preventive measure against heart diseases and even cancer. The melatonin they contain can help you fight insomnia and reduce the brain damage which happens because of aging. Tart cherries are also rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A and beta-carotene. It has been proven that tart cherries have more beta-carotene and fewer calories than sweet cherries. Recent researches have also shown that it’s possible to dissolve kidney stones by eating tart cherries.

Sour fresh cherries begin ripening in the U.S. in June. The sweet fresh cherries, in comparison, are available from May to August. Eating fresh fruits is a wonderful habit. However, dried cherries are a good alternative, being available all year long. Both sweet and tart dried cherries make good snacks and cooking ingredients.

The color of cherries varies as well. Sweet cherries can be golden-red (Royal Ann), dark red (Bing and Lambert) and purple-black (Tartarian). Tart cherries are smaller than their sweet sisters. They can be bright red (Early Richmond and Montmorency) or dark red (Morello).

Some people say that tart cherries are too sour to be eaten raw (or straight from the pack in case of dried cherries), that’s why they use them mostly as ingredients in various recipes. Usually, sugar is added to these cherries in order to soften their taste. However, as I already wrote, our preferences are different – what is unacceptable for some people may be delicious for others. For example, if I use tart dried cherries for baking a pie, a brie or a cake, I add a little sugar (but just a little, let’s not forget that sugar is a detrimental product!). If I use them in a sauce, a salad or a stuffing, I don’t try to soften their taste – in fact, their tangy flavor is that element that makes a dish delicious! If you’re making a fruit salad with dried cherries, try not to add sugar as well – learn to enjoy the natural taste of fruits!

You can also add dried tart cherries in your morning oatmeal or cereals, in granolas and in yogurts. If you enjoy baking various delicious snacks for your kids, then don’t hesitate to put them  in pancakes, muffins and cookies. They are also a great alternative to raisins – in fact, many people (including myself) are claiming that dried sour cherries are better and tastier than raisins!

Did you know that most cherries in the United States come from Michigan? Traverse City in Michigan is actually considered the Cherry Capital or the entire world! Both sweet and tart cherries grow here. Michigan dried cherries usually have a good quality and you can find them everywhere.

Actually, Michigan grows 75% of United States’ tart cherries. Michigan dried tart cherries come in several varieties meant to satisfy the different tastes of their customers. The traditional variety is infused with sugar before being dried. This type of dried cherries is appropriate for cooking and baking – especially for sweet recipes. However, if you plan to use the cherries as an ingredient in a main course, as an addition to your cereal or as a snack, I strongly advise you to buy unsweetened dried cherries. If you like chocolate and you’re too lazy to make your own chocolate covered dried cherries, you can buy them already packed. The combination of sweet chocolate and tangy dried cherries is irresistible!

Both sweet and sour dried cherries are appropriate for desserts. You can sprinkle them on your ice-cream – it is both delicious and healthy (well, maybe the ice-cream is not too healthy, but the dried cherries certainly are!) .

If you look at the big picture, tart cherries seem to have more health-related benefits than sweet cherries. However, there is one great advantage to dried sweet cherries: if you love sweet snacks, it’s much better to eat unsweetened dried sweet cherries than dried tart cherries with sugar. In the first case, no sugar is added because the sweet cherries have their natural sugar which is very healthy! In the second case, you are maybe having more antioxidants and vitamins, but you’re also eating too much refined sugar!

You can also find a compromise: there are actually some tart cherries with a sweeter taste, for example the Balaton tart cherry. These cherries are less tangy than the classical sour cherries, at the same time having all their nutritional benefits.

In the end, it’s hard to say which dried cherries are better – sweet or sour. It depends on your taste, your cooking preferences (and abilities) and, of course, your health-related objectives.