Cherries have perhaps the briefest season of all fruits. There are two species: the sour and the sweet. The sweet cherries that we use at the River Cafe for our ice-creams and drinks are native to Europe. There are more than 600 varieties of cherry in cultivation, with colours varying from dark red to almost white or yellow. Fresh cherries should have stems that are crisp and green, the fruit firm and glossy.
The best way of testing the quality of a cherry before purchasing is to taste (just) one.