# Flavors of cherries in different forms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 5, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106 "2013-09-05T19:59:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/1 "2013-09-05T19:59:24Z")
I like raw cherries. I like cherry pie. I cannot stand the sickly-sweet-candy flavor of maraschino cherries. Is this even the same fruit?! And I cannot stand cherry-vanilla ice cream, Cherry Coke, etc., etc., because cherry-flavor in anything but a pie always tastes more like a maraschino cherry than a raw one. Why is that?! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/2 "2013-09-05T20:33:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I cannot stand the sickly-sweet-candy flavor of maraschino cherries. Is this even the same fruit?! [Yes, after the cherries have been processed.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ombBsECUY7o) > [@](#): > > And I cannot stand cherry-vanilla ice cream, Cherry Coke, etc., etc., because cherry-flavor in anything but a pie always tastes more like a maraschino cherry than a raw one. Why is that?! Cherry-vanilla ice cream traditionally uses maraschinos. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/3 "2013-09-05T20:55:21Z")
Have you tried “real” maraschino cherries? I can’t stand the ubiquitous electric red ones that come in most cocktails/sundaes. These, however, I love. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/4 "2013-09-05T21:02:49Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I like raw cherries. > > I like cherry pie. > > I cannot stand the sickly-sweet-candy flavor of maraschino cherries. Is this even the same fruit?! Not really, no. Pie cherries are sour cherries, while the ones you eat out of hand are sweet cherries. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/5 "2013-09-05T21:05:02Z")
I will take the rainiers, you can have the rest. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/6 "2013-09-06T00:40:19Z")
I’ll take your maraschinos if you don’t want them. Love those things, but probably shouldn’t admit that! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/7 "2013-09-06T02:47:57Z")
> [@](#): > > I cannot stand the sickly-sweet-candy flavor of maraschino cherries. Is this even the same fruit?! Not entirely. Maraschinos get a lot of their flavor from the grenadine syrup they’re packed in, which in turn is made from pomegranates. But hey, if you don’t want them, more for me. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/8 "2013-09-06T08:47:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Not entirely. Maraschinos get a lot of their flavor from the grenadine syrup they’re packed in, which in turn is made from pomegranates. Maraschino cherries were originally packed in maraschino liqueur, which is made from marasca cherries. Most maraschinos today are packed in artificially colored sugar syrup. I don’t think I’ve ever seen maraschinos packed in grenadine. Cherry pies are usually made from sour varieties such as Montmorency. Apart from the sourness, these have a different flavor from sweet varieties such as Bing and Ranier. Sour cherries are also used in things like Black Forest cake. Fresh sour cherries don’t show up in grocery stores or produce markets very often (at least around here), but you will sometimes find canned or frozen ones. I have seen dried and freeze-dried sour cherries for sale at Trader Joe’s. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/9 "2013-09-06T15:13:12Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Have you tried “real” maraschino cherries? I can’t stand the ubiquitous electric red ones that come in most cocktails/sundaes. These, however, I love. +1 Luxardos are divine. Try some in a rye Manhattan, and you will be a believer. I’m not a fan of fresh cherries, but if you bring a bag of dried Montmorency cherries to my house, prepare to see a knife fight amongst us all for it! ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/10 "2013-09-06T15:37:14Z")
I’ve had it before, but it wasn’t really until the other week I realised that [kriek lambic beer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriek_lambic) is very refreshing on a warm summer’s day. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/11 "2013-09-06T15:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Most maraschinos today are packed in artificially colored sugar syrup. Well, yeah, I thought that went without saying-- Everything nowadays is artificial. But I thought that the artificial stuff was at least meant to mimic grenadine? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/12 "2013-09-06T18:34:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > . . . I thought that the artificial stuff was at least meant to mimic grenadine? I’m pretty sure the artificial stuff is meant to mimic cherry liqueur, since that’s what “real” maraschinos are made with. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/13 "2013-09-06T18:45:05Z")
[According to the FDA](http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074535.htm), since 1940, maraschino cherries have been flavored with extract of bitter almonds or similar flavor: > [@](#): > > The term “Maraschino Cherries” is regarded as the common or usual name of an article consisting of cherries which have been dyed red, impregnated with sugar and packed in a sugar sirup [sic] flavored with oil of bitter almonds or a similar flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/14 "2013-09-06T19:30:31Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [According to the FDA](http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074535.htm), since 1940, maraschino cherries have been flavored with extract of bitter almonds or similar flavor: a ha! That’s why I don’t like “regular” maraschino cherries. I hate almond flavoring and anything made from almonds. Almonds straight up I like, but not anything made from them and certainly not extracts. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/15 "2013-09-06T22:22:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I like raw cherries. > > I like cherry pie. > > I cannot stand the sickly-sweet-candy flavor of maraschino cherries. Is this even the same fruit?! > > And I cannot stand cherry-vanilla ice cream, Cherry Coke, etc., etc., because cherry-flavor in anything but a pie always tastes more like a maraschino cherry than a raw one. Why is that?! I am totally with you on this; well, except that I am not sure I have ever had cherry pie. I may have avoided it because I assumed it would taste like “cherry flavored” stuff rather than like fresh, raw cherries. But yes, fresh cherries are very good, but maraschino cherries and _a fortiori_ anything purportedly “cherry flavored” (I have always assumed it was some artificial, chemical flavor, not from real cherries) are thoroughly gross. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/16 "2013-09-06T22:59:27Z")
It’s the same thing with “strawberry, grape or orange” ice cream, soda or candy. Very rarely can you find something that is made of and tastes like the real deal. I did have an absolutely splendid waffle cone the other day made with very rich yoghurt and sour cherries. Apparently it isn’t a big seller as I went back and they didn’t have it anymore. Or maybe others took the risk and it got eaten up really fast? I hope so. And Green & Black’s makes a delightful dark chocolate bar with dried sour cherries in it that is also hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/17 "2013-09-06T23:20:41Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > It’s the same thing with “strawberry, grape or orange” ice cream, soda or candy. Very rarely can you find something that is made of and tastes like the real deal. Fake banana flavoring in candy like taffy is better than real banana flavor. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/18 "2013-09-07T00:09:56Z")
a cobbler or bars are also nice. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/19 "2013-09-07T00:17:52Z")
Cherry pie can taste like either real cherries or like artificial cherry flavor. Canned filling is more likely to have the artificial taste, but I’ve known folks who pick the cherries themselves and make pies out of them. And yes, real and artificial cherry definitely taste different, but I like them both. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106/20 "2013-09-07T01:03:44Z")
And what’s with the “cherry” flavoured cough medicine? That stuff bears no resemblance in any way to the taste of cherries. Putrid, vile stuff. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-cherries-in-different-forms/668106.md?page=2)