Inspirational Cherry Madness !!!

The time has come to find all the facts you may ever need around the existence of the most radical of fruits... the Cherry!

Did you know the cherry fruit is part of the Rosaceae family which also includes almonds, peaches, apricots and plums.

It is believed that the sweet cherry originated in the area between the Black and Caspian Seas in Asia Minor around 70 B.C. The Romans introduced them to Britain in the first century A.D.

Cherries were a prized food in China dating back to 600 BC fit only for royalty!!

In an average crop year, a sweet cherry tree will produce 7,000 cherries. Wow!

Miharu Takizakura, Japan – The oldest Cherry Blossom tree in the World is about 1,000 years old!

Fruit production starts three to four years after planting. The tree reaches maturity after seven years, patience is key!

Cherries are best paired with herbs like sage, chives, and verbena; dairy products like ricotta cheese and sweet cream; and with meats like pork and beef especially with black pepper. Try it!

The most expensive box of cherries was sold for $35,000 Australian dollars by Sydney Markets!! $35,000!!!!

On average, there are about 88 cherries in one kilo!

There are over 1,000 different varieties but only around 10-20 are used in commercial production. Amazing!

Around two million tonnes of cherries are produced each year. Turkey is the greatest manufacturer of cherries in the world. Just in case you wondered...

Traverse City, Michigan, is known as the Cherry Capital of the World. more than 30,000 acres of cherry trees. In the Traverse City region alone, a whopping 4 million trees produce 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes of tart cherries annually. That's a lot of cherries...

Cherries are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are good for your health and are low in calories, too!

A chemical reaction between cherries and alkalies such as baking powder causes a blue discoloration in a baked product. This can be prevented by using sour cream instead of milk in the recipe or by adding an acidic liquid. Useful to know!

Glacé cherries are processed for extra two weeks. This gives them a candy-like property and area ideally used in the traditional cake or even cake decorations and as an ingredient in cookies, breads and other baked specialties.