The blooming Japanese cherry is often eye-catching, especially in spring. Anyone who encounters them or has planted them in their own garden may wonder whether their fruits are edible or poisonous. Here's the solution!
Is the Japanese cherry edible?
The Japanese ornamental cherry is edible and not poisonous. However, it tastes less juicy and sweet compared to sweet cherries. The flowers of the ornamental church are also edible and are suitable for decorating dishes, salads and desserts.
The fruits – a less popular alternative to sweet cherries
They look like wild cherries. Their color is purple to black and they ripen in July. Their diameter is between 0.8 and 1 cm. Their shape is spherical to ovoid. They are the fruits of the Japanese cherry. Contrary to popular belief, they are not poisonous.
These fruits are often eaten by hungry birds. But in most cases the majority ends up on the ground and dries up. No wonder: these cherries don't taste like well-known sweet cherries. They are less sweet and juicy because they have not fallen victim to overbreeding.
If you want to enjoy delicious cherries, you should choose a sour or sweet cherry tree. Even with a lot of care, the Japanese ornamental cherry rarely produces fruit and when fruit does appear, their number is usually sparse.
The flowers – a pretty and edible decorative element
In addition to the fruits, the flowers of the Japanese cherry, which appear between the end of March and the beginning of April, are edible. They have a sweet-tart taste and can be used among other things:
- for salads
- for sweets such as vanilla pudding and ice cream
- for decorating food
- for snacking straight from the tree
The leaves – an unusual ingredient for salads
But your ornamental cherry also has other edible parts of the plant. If you are open to new things, give the leaves a try. You can do this, for example: B. do when you cut the plant in spring. The leaves are edible and have a cherry-like aroma.
They are best picked shortly after budding, when they are still medium green and very shiny. Then they are mild and their consistency when chewed is pleasant and not crumbly, in contrast to older leaves. For example, you can use them in salads and smoothies.
Tips & Tricks
For the really brave: The resin that comes out of the wood of the Japanese cherry is also edible and a great 'natural chewing gum'.
