Cerises. Taste of French June
When living in one of the largest cherry-producing regions of France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes), a cherry is hard to miss when June arrives. They settle slowly yet, sometimes even unexpectedly, in the market stalls, reminding of the passage of time, as the cheery knock on the door is also a knock on the realisation that, even though it was just Christmas, June is already here.
It is then, in June, when, one by one, smaller, darker, brighter, larger, less or more crispy, they take over the last of the season’s apples and pears and fight over their attention with strawberries. Yes, a cherry, as simple as it is, is a gift from nature and one that a French person loves dearly. And, although it might seem that no one cares about which variety to buy, standing in a queue at the market, you notice how the lightness of buying a cherry is complemented by the knowledge of which one to choose, when it will be used and how, too.
As everywhere in the world, there are plenty of cherry varieties to choose from, depending on one’s liking, usage, and many other preferences. Yet, to be fair, most of varieties do have a beautiful sweetness, crunchiness, juiciness and deliver that very delicious taste, so it is even easy to choose without knowing them better. BUT. To know your way around, here are some of the descriptions (so that you can feel like a French person while choosing).
Burlat
One of the most popular cherry varieties in France. Juicy, sweet, and almost excellent.
Céret cherries
Originating in Céret, the cherry capital of France, this variety starts already in April and has been flown to Paris to be delivered to the President since 1932.
Canada Giant
Sweet, firm, and crunchy.
Napoleon
Sweet, very juicy, firm, and with a marbled, pinkish red skin.
La Bellise
Dark skin and interior cherry that is crispy, juicy, and firm.
Folfer
Dark skin and interior, firm and crunchy.
Ferdouce
Quite firm and sweet, but not overpowering, with a red and white interior.
Marmotte
Crunchy, sweet, but with a touch of sourness. Just a touch.
Moreau
Very firm and crunchy.
