When Do Cherries Ripen? The Natural King of Vitamin C - Wash Them This Way to Get Them Really Clean

Cherries are generally eaten as a fruit, with a sweet and sour taste. They are rich in iron, ranking first among all fruits, and rich in vitamin C. They are recognized worldwide as the “natural king of vitamin C” and the “fruit of life”. So, do you know when cherries ripen?

1. A brief introduction to cherries!

1. Are cherries the same as chelizi (sweet cherries)?

Cherries are not the same as chelizi. In a broad sense, cherries are also called chelizi; it is a transliteration of the English word for cherry, “cherries”, but in a narrow sense, cherries are not chelizi. In our country there are two kinds of cherries, namely Chinese cherry and Nanking cherry, and in Europe there is also a kind of cherry, namely sweet cherry, which is called “chelizi” in our country; it and the Chinese cherry belong to the same genus but are different species.

2. Can cherry pits be eaten?

Cherry pits cannot be eaten. Cherry pits contain a cyanogenic glycoside compound. It is not toxic by itself, but under the action of enzymes and acid it releases hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic. After a person eats it, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and so on may occur, and in severe cases there may be unclear consciousness, weak breathing, coma, and even death.

2. When do cherries ripen?

1. Cherries generally bloom in January-February in the south and in March-April in the north, with the whole flowering period lasting about 10 days, and the fruit ripens from March to June. Because cherries bloom and ripen early, they have the reputation of being the “first fruit of early spring”.

2. In China, different places of origin mean different ripening times. Greenhouse cherries in Dalian, Liaoning ripen in mid-March, greenhouse cherries in Yantai, Shandong ripen in mid-to-late April, open-field cherries in the south begin to ripen in early May, open-field cherries in Yantai, Shandong begin to ripen in mid-to-late May, and open-field cherries in Dalian, Liaoning begin to ripen in early June, and by early July there are no more domestic cherries.

3. Abroad, different countries mean different cherry ripening times. Cherries in the United States and Canada ripen in August-September, cherries in Chile ripen in November, and cherries in Australia and New Zealand ripen in December.

4. Once cherries are ripe they can be picked, usually by hand. When picking, hold the branch you are picking from with one hand, pinch the stem of the cherry with the other hand, and gently twist downward. Cherries picked this way keep their stalks, which makes them easier to store.

3. How should cherries be washed?

Cherries are best eaten only after being washed clean. After all, their fruit surface may have pesticides and bacteria, and the flesh may contain maggots and eggs. Eating them without washing them may cause an upset stomach. So how do you wash them clean?

Method 1. Wash with salt water: First, rinse the dirt off the surface of the cherries under running water; next, prepare a container, put the cherries in, then add water to the container, enough to submerge the cherries; finally, add an appropriate amount of edible salt to the water and stir well, until the water has a slight salty taste, then soak for twenty minutes and take them out to eat.

Method 2. Wash with edible alkali: First, rinse the dirt off the surface of the cherries under running water; next, prepare a container, put the cherries in, then add an appropriate amount of water to the container, and mix an appropriate amount of edible alkali into the water, and soak for 15 minutes; finally, take out the soaked cherries, rinse them clean with clear water, and they are ready to eat.

Method 3. Wash with rice water: Rice water is alkaline and has the effect of breaking down pesticides. Soak the cherries in rice water for ten minutes, then gently rub and wash them, then rinse them clean with clean water and they are ready to eat.

Cherry ripening times vary according to the growing region. If they are already ripe, they can be picked by hand, and after picking they must be washed clean before eating; otherwise there may be dust, small insects or pesticide residue, and eating them may cause an upset stomach. The three washing methods above can get cherries clean.