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Cherries on top

In this month's delicious. magazine, meet Michael Dallaway, a former City high-flier-turned-cherry producer, plus brand new cherry recipes. In the meantime, here are some cherry facts.

Cherry facts

There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherry worldwide – around 700 sweet and 300 sour. Sour cherries, such as Morello, are used for cooking and are rarely sold fresh in the UK. Instead they can be bought canned or in syrups.

Organised cherry orchards did not arrive in Britain until Tudor times, but the Romans brought the first cherry trees to Britain from Persia. Legend has it that you can trace old Roman roads in Britain by the wild cherry trees – the Roman legions spat out stones from the fruit as they travelled the country.

In the UK, we spend £60 million a year on cherries.

Ten cherries will give you one of your five-a-day and a quarter of your daily vitamin C.

Hot cherry stones were once used in bed warming pans.

British Cherry Day on 19 July will be celebrated with cherry-themed events around the country. For more information, and a guide to where to pick and buy fresh cherries, visit Food Lovers Britain.

If you’d like to plant a cherry tree, choose an open, sunny spot – preferably on well-drained, light soil such as sandy loam. Contact Black Moor Estate for more information.




Cherry flavours

The award-winning Wicked Fruit Company produces a seasonal cherry truffle – diced cherries flavoured with kirsch in a white chocolate truffle – throughout July and August. Cherry truffles, £4.50 for a 100g box, visit Wicked Fruit to order.

Look out for cherry ice cream, made with local Kentish cherries by Simply Ice Cream, an award-winning Kent company. Call 01233 720922 for more information.

For a fabulous whole fruit `preserve, try black cherry & cranberry with kirsch (£3.30 for 227g) from Mrs Huddleston’s Luxury Homemade Provisions. To order, click here to email.

Try cherry wine from Carr Taylor – delicious mixed with brandy or vodka, used in fruit salads or trifle, or added to gravy when serving duck. Cherry wine, £4.95 for 50cl, visit Carr Taylor to order.


delicious. cherry recipes





Bavarian cream with kirsch cherries recipe
Give yourself a treat with this yummy German dessert.







Cherry clafoutis recipe
The traditional way to eat cherries for dessert is in the classic French clafoutis (a sort of flan-meets-crêpe affair). And it is still unbeatable.






Cherries Jubilee recipe
This recipe has been adapted and improved since its invention for Queen Victoria's Jubilee celebration.








Cherry pie recipe
This recipe is as American as cherry pie.







Chocolate and cherry ice cream sundae recipe
This rich chocolate and cherry combo combines the classic flavours of Black Forest gateau in a glass.








Gooey chocolate puds with whole cherry sauce recipe
These lovely chocolate puds can be prepared in advance, chill for up to 5 hours, then bake for 9-10 minutes when ready to eat – this guarantees centres oozing with chocolate.






Low-fat hot chocolate and cherry souffles recipe
A light chocolate souffle with red cherries that makes a memorable dessert.






Spiced cherries in vodka recipe
This is brilliant for parties – some of your guests might like to major on the booze, while others might prefer to linger over the fresh cherries. You can serve it after 1 hour of macerating but the longer you leave it, the more potent it will become.









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