The two main types of tart cherries are Montmorency and Balaton. Montmorency is the most commonly grown tart cherry in the United States.
Tart cherries are bright red in color while sweet cherries tend to be darker red and sometimes even purple. Sweet cherries are also larger than tart cherries.
One cup of frozen tart cherries contains 60 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of fiber. Tart cherries also contain nine times more vitamin A than blueberries, with one serving of tart cherries providing 25 percent of the recommended daily value.
Anthocyanins are the key antioxidant compounds in cherries. Along with providing the bright red pigment to tart cherries, these phytonutrients have been specifically linked to high antioxidant capacity.
Tart cherries have been suggested to exert several potentially beneficial health effects including: lowering blood pressure, modulating blood glucose, enhancing cognitive function, protecting against oxidative stress and reducing inflammation.
Tart cherry consumption have demonstrated particular benefits in recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage and diabetes associated parameters.
The tartness in a tart cherry makes them a perfect addition to baked goods like muffins, pies, and cakes, resulting in their nickname of "pie cherries".
Tart cherries
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