Like all Italian produce, cherries are imbued with the special qualities of soil, rain, and sunshine that can be found only in Italy. Unfortunately, the delicate cherry cannot be easily transported when fresh and typically doesn’t last long after being picked. With their usual ingenuity with food preparation, Italians devised a way of preserving the delicate cherry and turned it into something else altogether: the cocktail cherry preserved in syrup or a sweet liqueur.
Popular Brands of Italian CherriesÂ
Like many iconic foods of Old World cuisine, Amarena cherries have an impressive lineage that can be traced back to the 19th century. Local business owner Gennaro Fabbri cultivated this sour black cherry variety, and with the help of his wife, he cooked them in syrup before preserving them in distinctive blue and white jars. Today, Amarena Fabbri Wild Cherries in Heavy Syrup are still sold in the original jars, recognizable all around Italy. Another beloved brand of Italian cherries is Toschi, makers of the Amarena Sour Black Cherries in Syrup, the classic maraschino cocktail cherry, and Italian vignola cherries preserved in liqueur. Known as the “original” maraschino cherry, Luxardo Maraschino Cherries come in jars or cans. Unlike the bright red orbs you’re used to seeing in cocktails, these are all natural, and not artificially colored or flavored.
How are Italian cherries used?Â
Acting as an exclamation point for fancy cocktails and world-class desserts, Italian cherries are the result of a preservation process that begins with harvesting fresh fruit and ends with traditional preservation techniques. These gourmet cocktail cherries are sweet candied treats that can be eaten alone, used as an elegant dessert topper, or mixed in a Manhattan. Whether they’re preserved in syrup or liquor, the delicious cherry flavor shines through in Whiskey cocktail recipes, ice cream sundaes, and fruity cake layers. In addition to individual sized cherry jars for home pantries, Supermarket Italy offers delicious cherries in bulk, perfect for restaurant and bar service.
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