In April to July, street vendors often sell cherries, a fruit native to the northern mountainous region. Let’s learn about the different types of cherries and how to distinguish them from Chinese cherries.
1 Where are cherries grown?
Cherries are a specialty and are widely cultivated in the Northwest mountains, particularly in Son La. They have green skin, a refreshing sour taste, and a slightly bitter undertone. When ripe, cherries turn red like the color of cherries and are covered in an enchanting layer of white powder.
Cherry trees thrive in cool, moist climates with temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. Any temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius can hinder the growth of cherry trees and cause them to wither.
Cherries thrive in various types of soil, particularly those with a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5 and excellent drainage, such as hilly areas. As a result, cherries flourish in the northern mountainous regions, such as Sapa, Ha Giang, Moc Chau, and Son La.
Cherries are typically harvested from the end of March to the beginning of April. Even when young, they possess a distinctive flavor that is refreshing and not bitter. From May to the end of July is the cherry season when the cherry trees are laden with fruit, attracting many buyers.
2 Can cherries be grown in the plains?
Yes, cherries can be grown in the plains, but only certain varieties like steel cherries, bitter cherries, and sour cherries. However, the quality may be poor, and they may not bear fruit or the trees may wither. Cherry trees thrive in cold, humid climates with temperatures between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius. The hot weather in the southern plains, except for the Lâm Đồng and Đà Lạt region, is not suitable for cherry tree cultivation.
3 Distinguishing cherries from Chinese cherries
You can use the following characteristics to easily differentiate between cherries and Chinese cherries.
Cherries are smaller in size, not uniform in shape, but firm to the touch. When ripe, they are dark red in color and covered in a layer of white powder. They have a sour taste. Chinese cherries, on the other hand, are larger in size, have a dull yellow or black color, are soft to the touch, and taste much sweeter.
Son La cherries still have stems and leaves, indicating their freshness, while Chinese cherries are transported over long distances and stored, which results in them lacking freshness and lacking stems and leaves.
Cherries are typically harvested from April to early July. If you still find cherries after July, they are most likely Chinese cherries.
4 Where can you buy delicious and affordable cherries?
You can purchase cherries at large markets, supermarkets, and reputable e-commerce sites like Shopee and Tiki. During the cherry season, it will be easier to find authentic cherries and avoid mistakenly purchasing Chinese cherries.
The average price of cherries ranges from 60,000 VND/kg to over 150,000 VND/kg. The price for type I cherries is higher, usually around 200,000 VND/kg to 300,000 VND/kg.
References: delicious, affordable, reputable cherries in Ho Chi Minh City?
Above is all the information about cherries and how to distinguish them from Chinese cherries. We hope you have found this article informative and interesting.