The sweet fruits were not always native to our latitudes. Interesting facts about the origin of the cherry and its way to Europe can be found here.
Especially in summer the cherry is (Prunus) simply indispensable. Many probably still remember happy childhood days when you looked at cherry trees climbed, plucked the sweet red pearls and a cherry pit spitting competition hosted. But grandma's delicious cherry jam and delicious red fruit jelly are two real cherry classics that you can still enjoy today. But the cherry has not always been at home in our Central European latitudes - in fact, the well-known fruit has even traveled a long way.
What is the origin of the cherry?
The real home of the cherry is in Asia Minor in the areas of today's Turkey. As early as 74 BC Chr. brought a Roman general named Lucius Licinius Lucullus (117 BC). Chr.; † 56 BC BC) the dark red fruit from the port city of Kerasus with back to Italy. The ancestors of our current sweet cherries (
Prunus avium) since 400 BC. Chr. have been grown. In fact, researchers found stones from the bird cherry (Prunus avium subsp. avium), the original form of today's sweet cherry, in settlements from the Stone Age - this makes the cherry one of the oldest fruit plants in our history.The cherry owes its name to its origins in the city of Kerasus - in a number of languages. For example, it is called “cereza” in Spanish, “cerise” in French and “kiraz” in Turkish. Even the German word “cherry” can be traced back to the name of the port city at the time.
The exact origin of the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), on the other hand, is largely unknown: Nowadays it is assumed that it is a cross between the bird cherry and a steppe cherry (Prunus fruticosa), which probably also comes from Asia Minor or the Balkans.
Since when has the cherry been found all over Europe?
When the cherry finally arrived in Italy, from there it slowly spread across the entire European continent. Due to the massive influence of the Romans and their huge sphere of influence, it was particularly favorable for the spread of the fruit. Today the cherry has conquered almost the whole world with its excellent taste and will hopefully bewitch us again this summer with sweet experiences.
Which varieties were first to be found in Europe?
From the 16. In the 19th century, both sweet and sour cherries were widespread throughout Germany and, over time, split into numerous varieties and regional variations. In the case of sweet cherries alone, in the 19th In the 19th century, 600 different varieties existed. Unfortunately, many of these original varieties can no longer be found today. The ‘Great Black Cartilage Cherry’, which was first mentioned in 1540 and comes from France, is considered to be one of the oldest still existing cherry varieties. It is still one of the most popular cherry varieties today - it is still grown in Germany. The ‘Earliest of the Mark’ was also mentioned as early as 1794, making it one of the oldest cherry varieties in Germany. Due to its particularly early ripeness, it has the special honor of serving as the starting variety of the cherry week and thus ushering in the cherry season. One of the oldest cherries that has its home in Germany is ‘Büttner's red cartilage cherry’, which was described as early as 1795.
Among the sour cherries, on the other hand, the ‘morello’ is not only a popular one, but also one Well-tried classic - the cherry, which originally comes from France, was already in 1650 described. Also the ‘red corn cherry’, which has been available since 19. It is said to have existed in the 19th century, but thanks to its refreshing, sweet and sour taste, it has survived in Germany to this day, even if it is seldom grown. Another, albeit a little younger, cherry originating in Germany is ‘Heimanns Rubin Weichsel’ - Especially due to its insensitivity to the Monilia disease, the variety from 1920 is still popular today cultivated.