plum juice

Cherry juice is a delicious and nutritious beverage made from sweet or sour cherries. Here's how you can make cherry juice at home:

Ingredients:

- Fresh cherries (sweet or sour)

- Water

- Optional: Sweetener (such as sugar or honey)

Instructions:

1. Wash the cherries thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris.

2. Remove the stems and pits from the cherries. You can do this by either cutting the cherries in half and removing the pits with your fingers or using a cherry pitter.

3. Place the pitted cherries in a saucepan and add enough water to cover them.

4. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer the cherries for about 10-15 minutes, or until they start to soften.

5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the cherries cool slightly.

6. Once the cherries have cooled, transfer them to a blender or food processor.

7. Blend the cherries on high speed until they are completely pureed and smooth.

8. Place a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth over a large bowl or pitcher, and pour the cherry puree through the sieve to strain out the pulp and seeds. Use a spoon to press down on the solids to extract as much juice as possible.

9. Discard the solids left in the sieve, and transfer the strained cherry juice to a clean container.

10. Taste the cherry juice and adjust the sweetness level, if necessary, by adding a small amount of sweetener to taste. Sweet cherries may not need additional sweetener, but sour cherries may benefit from a touch of honey or sugar.

11. Stir the cherry juice well to incorporate any added sweetener.

12. Serve the cherry juice immediately in glasses with ice, if desired, or refrigerate it for later use. Enjoy your freshly made cherry juice!

Note: Freshly made cherry juice is best consumed immediately for optimal flavor and nutritional benefits. If storing leftovers, transfer the cherry juice to an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 2-3 days. Shake or stir the juice before serving, as natural separation may occur over time. Additionally, you can experiment with different cherry varieties and adjust the sweetness level to suit your taste preferences.