The native range of the sweet cherry extends through most of Europe, western Asia and parts of northern Africa, and the fruit has been consumed throughout its range since prehistoric times. A cultivated cherry is recorded as having been brought to Rome
by Lucius Licinius Lucullus from northeastern Anatolia, modern day Turkey, also known as the Pontus region, in 72 BC.[2]
A form of cherry was introduced into England at Teynham, near Sittingbourne inKent by order of Henry VIII, who had tasted them in Flanders.
The English word cherry, French cerise and Spanish cereza all come from the classical Greek (κέρασος) through the Latin cerasum, thus the ancient Roman place name Cerasus, today a city in northern Turkey Giresun from which the cherry was first exported to Europe.[6]
Ingredients (6 (3 ounce) Ice Pops)- 1 pound pitted fresh sweet cherries
- 1/2 cup minty simple syrup (recipe follows)
- 1-1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces good rum
Instructions
Place cherries, simple syrup, and lime juice into the jar of a blender, and blend until smooth.
Set a strainer over a large, glass measuring cup with a spout and strain the mixture, pushing down to extract all of the juice. Stir in rum.
Pour into popsicle molds and freeze until solid, at least 6-8 hours, adding popsicle sticks at the correct time for your molds.
Combine 2 cups water with 2 cups sugar, and a huge handful of fresh mint (leaves and stems...packed down, will equal about 1/2 cup) in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and allow to bubble for one minute, stirring to be sure all of the sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and cool to room temperature. Strain into a jar with a lid and store in the fridge.
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshydrupe (stone fruit). The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the sweet cherry, Prunus avium. The name 'cherry' also refers to the cherry tree, and is sometimes applied to almondsand visually similar flowering trees in the genus Prunus, as in "ornamental cherry", "cherry blossom", etc. Wild cherry may refer to any of the cherry species growing outside of cultivation, although Prunus avium is often referred to specifically by the name "wild cherry" in the British Isles
In a very large bowl, combine chopped cherries, lime juice, lime zest, and sugar. Stir to combine. Let stand 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
In a small saucepan over high heat, stir together water and pectin. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Add pectin mixture to cherry mixture and stir constantly for 3 minutes, or until sugar is dissolved and no longer grainy. If a few sugar crystals remain, that's ok.
Immediately fill containers to within 1/2'' of container tops. With a damp paper towel, wipe off the edges of containers. Immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Jam can now be used, stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month, or frozen for up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator before using.
