Nihon cherries

You see cherry trees in full bloom often featured but today I'm posting the fruits, which are as charming as the blossoms. :)

One of my kids' favorite snack...unfortunately the fresh ones come in certain seasons. The cherry fruit selected for eating are derived primarily from two species, the Wild cherry and the Sour cherry. The Wild variety has given rise to the Sweet variety and many other varieties. The Sour variety has been used mainly for cooking.

Cherry facts:

The cherry fruit contains dietary fiber and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. In addition, small amounts of vitamins A, C, B6, B12, E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid can be found in cherries.

They also contain Beta carotene, with sour cherries being shown to have more Beta carotene than sweet cherries. Cherry fruit have antioxidants like pectin and anthocyanins that have been linked to the prevention of cancer and heart disease.

Surprisingly, the actual juice from cherries is a potent antibacterial agent that fights tooth decay. Studies performed at Forsyth Dental Center have shown that black cherry juice can block up to 89% of enzyme activity that normally leads to plaque formation. (http://www.nutritiousfruit.com/cherry-fruit.html)

Cherry trees during the Hanami Festival (flower viewing) with stalls selling different Japanese delicacies; takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba and more.

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