Here you can find the etiquette rules on serving and eating cherries and tips to be the ideal host or guest.

how to serve and eat asparagus

What cherry etiquette is

Cherry etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat cherries. Such rules help avoid behaviors that can disrespect hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.

If you are hosting, follow cherries etiquette to serve them to your guests appropriately.

If you are a guest, respect cherries’ etiquette rules to properly eat and enjoy them.

What you should know about cherries

Cherries are a fruit. Ripe, they are deep red in color. Firm and juicy in texture. There are two main types of cherries, sweet and sour.

Etiquette tips to serve and eat cherries

1) How to store cherries

It is best to store cherries in the fridge. Store them unwashed and dry. Ideally, place them between paper towels. Cherries in the fridge can last between 5 and 10 days. 

If you keep cherries outside the fridge, at room temperature, they could last between 2 and 3 days.

You can store cherries in the freezer. They can last up to 6 and 8 months.

2) How to clean cherries

Put cherries in a bowl with water and vinegar. Let them soak for about 20 minutes. Then, wash the cherries under cool running water. Dry them on a kitchen cloth or paper towel. 

3) How to prepare cherries

Check the stem to assess the freshness of the cherries. Fresh cherries have an intact, green stem. Cherries without a stem can be fresh too. Check their color and hardness.

If you serve cherries fresh, wash them thoroughly before serving. You do not need to remove their stem. 

Alternatively, you can use cherries as an ingredient for jam or dessert. Bake them in pies, tarts, or crumbles. Sour cherries are better suited for baking.

If you cook or bake cherries, always remove the pits and stems. 

4) How to serve & present cherries

Wash cherries before serving. Alternatively, provide guests with a small bowl of water to wash them at the table.

If you serve cherries as a snack or after-meal fruit, serve them whole with stems and pits. If you serve cherries in a dessert or fruit salad, remove both stems and pits.

5) Foods and beverages to serve cherries with

Pair cherries with other fruit. Stone fruits, such as apricots, peaches, or nectarines. Citrus, such as lemon, lime, or orange.  

Cherries go well with chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon aromas.  

The best wine to pair cherries with is Pinot Noir. Alternatively, cherries go well with spirits. Such as Amaretto, Grand Marnier, Vermouth, or Vodka

6) How to eat cherries

Eat cherries with your fingers. Remove the stem before putting the cherry into your mouth. 

Spit pits in your hand. Use your other hand to cover your mouth. Avoid making noise, facial expressions, and moving your head. Place the pits close together on one side of your plate, or in a dedicated small cup if available. Do not fiddle with pips while in your mouth or once on the plate.

Cherry etiquette: the worst mistakes

Avoid the worst cherry etiquette mistakes. 

  • 8/10. Spitting pits in a visible way.
  • 8/10. Serving spoiled or overripe cherries.
  • 8/10. Serving unwashed cherries.
  • 7/10. Serving unripe cherries.
  • 6/10. Putting more than one cherry in your mouth at a time.

Additional information for properly serving cherries

How many calories per serving?

Counting calories is important to stay healthy and to correctly plan a menu.

Cherries contain about 50 calories per 100 grams. On average, a single cherry contains 5 calories. 

One individual serving of cherries is between 20 and 25 cherries and weighs 120 grams (one cup). It contains 120 calories.

How to buy the best cherries

A crucial factor in cherries etiquette is to serve the best product possible to your guests.

Season and availability 

The season for cherries can vary based on the variety and the region. Normally, it is between May and August. The peak season is in mid-July.

Choose the best

Ripe cherries look plump. They are shiny and deep red in color. They should feel firm but not stone-hard. Ideally, their stalks are attached.

If you prefer a sweet flavor, buy light red cherries. Dark red cherries tend to be more acidic and have a more complex aroma.

Alternatives to cherries

Cherries have distinctive texture, flavor, and aroma. Thus, they are not easy to substitute. If you can not find fresh cherries, try the frozen ones. Alternatively, cherries in liqueur.

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