Did you know that there are different types of cherries out there? Most are red, some are black and some are even yellowish-red in color. They range from sweet to sour, let’s talk about the different types of cherries you can find in the market.
17 Types of Cherry and Uses / Benefits
1. Van Cherries
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are medium to large sized and are not too sweet in flavour. They are best when eaten fresh.
2. Bing
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are one of the most popularly sold very sweet varieties of cherries. They have a dark red color. Best eaten raw, added into ice creams and desserts.
3. Skeena
Type: Sweet cherry
Skeena cherries are large in size and have a sweet taste, with a firm type of flesh. They are dark red in color. They are best used in cooked dishes, eaten raw or canned.
4. Montmorency
Type: Sour cherry
Montmorency cherries are rich in their tart flavouring and come in a medium size. They have a red coloured skin and yellow flesh, with a firm texture. They are best made into jam, added into pies and made into preserves.
5. Rainier
Type: Sweet cherry
This type of cherry is a very premium variety and has a yellowish red color. They are sweet, but have a hint of tartness. They are best eaten fresh, added in ice creams, pastries and cakes.
6. Morello
Type: Sour cherry
Morello cherries are a very popular variety of sour/tart cherries and are best added into pancakes, made into cherry syrup, added into waffles and baked goods etc.
7. Lambert
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are large in size and have a blackish colored skin. They have a firm texture and sweet flesh. They are best used in pies, sauces and can be even eaten fresh and raw.
8. Chelan
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are medium-sized and round in shaped. They are sweet to taste and have a firm texture. They are best used in pies, sauces, added into muffins, to freeze etc.
9. Balaton
Type: Sour cherry
Balaton cherries are large in size and have a sweet cum tart flavour. They are best made into juice and when added into pies.
10. Tulare
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are very similar to the Bing variety of cherries and have a sweet cm tangy flavour. They can be eaten fresh, canned, frozen or even added into baked desserts.
11. Sweetheart
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are sweet and juicy, with a firm texture. They are best eaten fresh (raw) or added when made into jam.
12. Black Cherries
Type: Black cherry
Black cherries are rare, as compared red cherries and have a blackish-purple skin. They are best for making jams and wine. They are also used to garnish cocktails and for flavouring rum.
13. Lapins
Type: Sweet cherry
These cherries are large in size and have a red skin and taste very sweet. They can be eaten fresh or added into baked goods.
14. North Star
Type: Sour cherry
These cherries are medium to large in size and have a rich flavour. These cherries are best made into juice and when added into desserts.
15. Benton
Type: Sweet cherry
Benton cherries are large in size and dark red in color. They have dense flesh. They are best eaten fresh or added into pies.
16. Queen Anne
Type: Sweet cherry
Queen Anne cherries, also called “Royal” cherries, have a sweet and creamy type of flesh. They are soft in texture and are best eaten fresh, while they can also be canned and preserved.
17. Amarena
Type: Sour cherry
These Amarena cherries have a dark red skin and its flesh has a sweet-bitter taste. They are best made into bottled syrups and can also be used for decoration on chocolate desserts.