Which are the Best Dried Cherries?

Cherry blossoms enchant us during the Spring Season. Their beautiful foliage and the colors of the flowers under the warm sun would definitely make everyone have the ultimate jaw-dropping moment of their life. Some more months after Spring comes Summer. And although the site is not as spectacular as the scenario of sprouting life after the long stretch of winter, cherry trees, on the other hand, delight us with the taste of their splendor. And literally, these trees indeed give us the savor of their beauty through the cherry fruits that, at last, appear on their leafy branches.

Cherry fruits, however, are not just a pleasure of sight; they are also a gratification of our taste buds. You might prefer to just get a handful of these fruits and directly eat them fresh. However, there are lots of things we can do to this fruit. In fact, cherries are gaining their popularity as the new Wonder Fruit because of their nutritional value and versatility. Cherries can be made into cocktails, cakes, pastries, juice and a lot more. But perhaps, the most versatile among these cherry products are the dried cherries.

Many manufacturers all over the world are embarking on dried cherry business. One, because they are easy to grow, yet promise a considerably high amount of income. Cherries undergo drying preservation methods in order to produce sun-dried cherries and dehydrated cherries.

Which are the best dried cherries? Sweet or sour, sun-dried or dehydrated? In order to answer this question, let’s analyze all these types so you can decide for yourself, considering your particular needs.

Sun-dried cherries, as the name implies, are cherry fruits which are exposed under the natural heat of the sun.

Dehydrated cherries, on the other hand, are those fruits that are dried out using commercial technologies. Sun dried cherries are more advantageous at times because they are preserved through the natural process. Besides, too much exposure to a dehydrator might be detrimental to the texture and freshness of the fruit.

Typically, there are two types of cherries according to their taste: the sweet cherry and the tart cherry. Tart cherries are the ones usually dried because they can sometimes be too sour to be eaten fresh (although some European and Middle Eastern people eat them fresh). They are used in cooking pies, soups, and pork meals. Traverse City, Michigan – the cherry capital of the world – is most famous for its dried tart cherries. This type of cherry is good for salads, yogurts, cereals, snacks and desserts. Some dried tart cherries are sold in three different variations: traditional dried cherries, sweetened before undergoing the drying process; unsweetened dried cherries, no sugar was added except for some natural oils, like sunflower oil; and chocolate coated dried cherries, sweetened and covered with sweet chocolate.

Dried sweet cherries are a little chewier and a bit tastier as compared to tart cherries. They are mostly sold on the West Coast. This type of dried cherry is suitable for chocolate panning or for just a plain snack.

Some purchasers prefer dried organic cherries. Because of the recent issue about the study regarding the relationship between chemical fertilizers and a child’s Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome (HDHD), especially because of organophosphates, the concern regarding the consumption of natural products increased. Be careful before buying dried fruit and make sure it has no chemical additives and preservatives! You can also grow a tree in your backyard and make sure that it is organically raised. Dry it under the sun, and voila, you already have your dried cherries!