Dried Cherries

Name: Dried Cherry — the dried fruit of the tart (sour) cherry, Prunus cerasus, a close relative of the sweet cherry, P. avium. Because tart cherries are far too acidic to enjoy dried on their own, commercially dried cherries are almost always sweetened, similar to dried cranberries.

Description

Cherries belong to the genus Prunus, and commercial production splits into two main types: sweet cherries, usually eaten fresh, and tart cherries, which are higher in acid and generally frozen, canned, or dried rather than eaten raw. Cherry trees are thought to have originated somewhere between the Caspian Sea and the Balkans, and today are grown wherever winters are cold enough to trigger spring blossoming but summers stay moderate.

Tart cherries are the variety most often dried, since their firmer flesh and high acidity hold up well to processing, though the finished product needs added sugar to balance out that sharpness. This is a relatively recent commercial development compared with traditions like sun-dried apricots or raisins — drying cherries at scale only became practical with modern dehydration and sweetening techniques.

Main nutrition value

Per 100g, dried cherries (tart, sweetened):

Dried cherries are a good source of vitamin C and carry a meaningful amount of beta-carotene (converted to vitamin A) along with potassium, though their fiber content is lower than most other dried fruit.

How best to be consumed

A small handful (25-30g) is a sensible serving, since sweetened dried cherries are closer to a candied fruit than a plain dried one, similar to sweetened dried cranberries. They work well in trail mixes, salads, granola, and baked goods, where their tart-sweet flavour adds contrast against nuts, cheese, or chocolate.

Overconsumption could cause…

With most of their sugar coming from added sweetener rather than the fruit itself, dried cherries are easy to overdo if eaten freely rather than in modest portions, which matters most for anyone watching sugar or calorie intake. Their sticky, chewy texture can also cling to teeth, adding to the risk of cavities with frequent snacking.

GroupsDried FruitsRose family (Rosaceae)Low fatLow sodiumDried

Made fromCherry

Related foodsDried PearDried AppleDried ApricotsDried PeachDried PrunesDried Mango

U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central — Cherries, tart, dried, sweetened (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program) (FDC ID 171708), 100g portion: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/171708/nutrients Encyclopaedia Britannica — cherry: https://www.britannica.com/plant/cherry