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How to pick tart cherries
3 min read
Montmorency and its relatives, grown for pie rather than for eating out of hand. Worth a trip if you bake, and a short season even by cherry standards.
What to look for
- 1
These come off without their stems, which is normal here and would be a mistake with a sweet cherry
- 2
Bright translucent red and soft to the touch. Firmness means it needs longer, which is the opposite of what people assume
- 3
They bruise on contact, so do not fill deeper than a few inches
- 4
Do not judge by taste. A perfectly ripe tart cherry is still sharp, which is the point of it
- 5
Pit the same day if you can. The flavour holds but the texture goes quickly
Find tart cherries near you
Seasons are short and local. See which pick-your-own farms have tart cherries on right now.
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