Sour cherry, Prunus cerasus, is the tart cherry of pies, jams and juices, such as Montmorency and morello. It grows in cool temperate climates. In India it appears mostly as an imported, canned or dried fruit, and a little is grown in Kashmir and Himachal. Tart cherry juice is marketed for sleep and joints on modest evidence.
- Botanical name
- Prunus cerasus L.
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Tamil
- Sour cherry
- Hindi
- Alubalu
- Parts used
- Ripe fruit
- Habit
- Sour cherry; English cherry is a shop word
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Sour cherry
It is a small tree or large shrub, smaller than the sweet cherry, with glossy, toothed, oval leaves.
White flowers grow in small clusters in spring, before or with the leaves.
The fruit is a round, bright to dark red drupe on a short stalk, very sour, with a single hard stone.
Sweet cherry, Prunus avium, is a taller tree with longer-stalked, sweeter fruit.
Morello types have dark red juice, while amarelle types such as Montmorency have clear juice and bright red skin.
Traditional use of Sour cherry
European and Middle Eastern kitchens
Sour cherries are used in pies, jams, syrups and drinks, and dried in rice dishes in Iran and Turkey.
European and Middle Eastern food practice
Modern notes on Sour cherry
Tart cherry juice contains anthocyanins and small amounts of melatonin. Small trials suggest modest effects on sleep and on muscle soreness after exercise.
It is a fruit, not a treatment for gout or arthritis.
Sour cherry safety
Eat the fruit, not the kernels. Cherry kernels contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide.
Ecology and sourcing
It is thought to have originated as a natural hybrid of sweet cherry and ground cherry in Europe and western Asia.
It needs cold winters to flower and fruit, so it is limited to high hills in India.
Bees pollinate the spring flowers.
Most of the world’s sour cherries are grown in Turkey, Russia, Poland, Ukraine and the United States.
Related plants
Also in Rosaceae
Questions about Sour cherry
Is Sour cherry a sweet cherry?
No. Sweet cherry is Prunus avium.
Does tart cherry juice help sleep?
Small studies suggest a modest effect.
Where is Sour cherry grown in India?
Only a little, in Kashmir and Himachal.
Can I eat them fresh?
Yes, but most people find them too sour and prefer them cooked or sweetened.
Sources
- Prunus cerasus L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q131517 (Prunus cerasus)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.