Orchard Talk

New to drinking cherry juice? Here is a brief introduction to mixing and enjoying delicious 100% Montmorency tart cherry juice.

Getting Started:
Cherry juice concentrate should be refrigerated upon arrival. You can store it for 6 months in the refrigerator or 12 months in the freezer. King Orchards cherry juice concentrate is concentrated to 68 brix; It won’t freeze solid or expand in the freezer.

Mixing cherry juice:
For a single glass of cherry juice, we recommend a mix of 7 parts water to 1 part concentrate. That’s 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) of concentrate for an 8 ounce glass of juice.

Another easy recipe is to mix 1/2 cup of cherry juice concentrate with 3 1/2 cups of water. This makes 1 quart of juice. We suggest making no more than a quart in advance, to minimize the possibility of spoilage.

Get Creative!
King Orchards tart cherry juice concentrate is 100% Montmorency cherries. That means it’s pure fruit, so feel free to experiment! Try mixing with club soda, orange or apple juice. A bit of tart cherry juice adds a nice flavor twist to summer lemonade, and is also a great cocktail mixer. We have many customers who add cherry juice concentrate to their yogurt and oatmeal, too.  It’s a sweet and sour delight over ice cream. Tart cherry juice concentrate gives everything a boost of natural cherry pie flavor.

Do you have a great cherry juice recipe?
If you have your own tart cherry juice recipes or serving suggestions, we’d love to hear and share them. Jot us a note in the comment section, or give us a call toll-free at 877-937-5464.

Cheers! and as always, thank you for supporting Michigan cherry growers!

Tags: cherry juice, mixing cherry juice, tart cherry juice

Powered by Red Contest Winner -Jaime Brown-Miller, Napa, CA

Ingredients:
Tuna:
1/4 cup tart cherry juice
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons chili paste (sirracha)
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
4 tuna fillets (ahi, albacore or similar)
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray

Cabbage:
1 cup dried tart cherries
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 cups shredded red cabbage
2 cups whole grain rice
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped

Directions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, chili sauce, garlic, soy sauce, mustard, tart cherry juice and green onions.

Heat a large skillet to high heat. Sprinkle the tuna with salt and pepper, spray with cooking spray, then sear for 90 seconds per side for rare (or until desired doneness). Remove from heat, cool slightly, and slice.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the honey and rice wine vinegar. Toss with the dried tart cherries and cabbage.

Prepare rice according to package directions.

To assemble, place equal amounts of rice onto the center of four plates. Push down the center of each mound to create a well and fill each well with equal amounts of dressed cabbage. Add slices of tuna, drizzle with sauce and sprinkle with parsley.

Serve.

Nutrition Info:
Courtesy of Powered by Red Contest Winner (Novice) -Jaime Brown-Miller, Napa, CA and the Cherry Marketing Institute

Tags: cherry cabbage recipe, cherry seared tuna, tart cherry recipes

We recommend a mixture of 1 part King Orchards tart cherry juice concentrate to 7 parts water. One easy recipe is to mix 1/2 cup concentrate with 3 1/2 cups of water to make one quart of juice.  (hint: an empty KO juice bottle works great for this.)

Many of our customers are on a routine of drinking 8 ounces of mixed juice per day. Two tablespoons of concentrate in an 8 ounce juice glass is the right mixture.

One of the nice things about choosing King Orchards Montmorency tart cherry juice concentrate is that it is 100% cherries, so you can be creative with how strong you mix it as well as with what you choose as a mixer. Try mixing with club soda, orange juice or apple juice. You can also add it to oatmeal or yogurt or even drink it straight by the tablespoon.

Tags: cherry juice, michigan tart cherries, montmorency, tart cherry juice, tart cherry recipes

Celebrate apple season and those cooler autumn evenings with this robust, red cider made with cherry juice, apple cider, and your favorite spices. Cheers!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup lemon peel, cut into 1/4″ strips
1 /2 cup orange peel, cut into 1/4″ strips
2 cups apple cider
4 cups tart cherry juice (1/2 cup King Orchards tart cherry juice concentrate plus 3 1/2 cups water)
2 (1/4″ thick) strips of peeled fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon allspice
5 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Simmer uncovered until liquid is reduced to 4 cups, approximately 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain liquid to remove peels and spices. Discard solids and serve in festive mugs.

Makes 4 one-cup servings.

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per cup: 175 calories, 0 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 42 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g protein, 1 g fiber, 10 mg sodium; Daily Values: 1% vitamin A, 7% vitamin C; 3% calcium; 8% iron

Tags: cherry apple cider, cherry juice, cherry juice concentrate, cherry recipes, tart cherry recipes

Tart cherry juice after a workout is the way many athletes ease muscle soreness. This triple hit of tart cherries, antioxidants, and protein is a great post-exercise treat.

Ingredients:
1 cup thawed tart cherries (canned tart cherries are an easy and less expensive alternative)
1 cup fresh or partially frozen strawberries
3 Tablespoons orange juice concentrate
1 /2 cup plain, nonfat yogurt (or vanilla nonfat yogurt)
1 /2 cup tart cherry juice (1.5 tablespoons cherry juice concentrate)
2 Tablespoons honey
ground nutmeg

Directions:
Combine all ingredients, except nutmeg in a blender and whip until smooth. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Makes 2 servings (approx. 1 1 /2 cup each)

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per 1 ½ cup serving: 227 calories, 1 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 g carbohydrate, 1 mg cholesterol, 5 g protein, 4 g fiber, 51 mg sodium; Daily Values: 5% vitamin A; 134% vitamin C; 16% calcium; 6%iron

Tags: cherry juice, cherry recipes, tart cherry recipes

Ingredients:

Cherry "Red Eye" Mojito

2 1/2 teaspoons super fine granulated sugar

3 Tablespoons tart cherry juice

12 mint leaves

Squeeze of fresh lime juice

1 ounce white rum

1/2 cup soda or seltzer water

Ice

Directions:

Place 6 mint leaves in a tall glass. Crush mint leaves with a muddler, or with the back of a spoon. Add sugar, tart cherry juice, lime juice, white rum and ice. Mix well. Finish drink with soda water and remaining mint leaves. Stir to combine and serve.

Yield: 1 serving.

Tags: cherry juice, cherry recipes, tart cherry recipes

For a subtle spice flavor add 1 cinnamon stick to the boiling water along with the tea bags. Discard the cinnamon stick along with the tea bags.

Ingredients:
4 cups boiling water
4 orange pekoe or English breakfast tea bags
1/4 cup sugar or sugar substitute*
1 cup tart cherry juice (2 tbl. cherry juice concentrate plus 7 ounces water)

Directions:
Add tea bags to boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes. Discard tea bags; stir in sugar until dissolved. Stir in cherry juice. Chill at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Pour over ice in tall glasses. Makes 4 servings.

*Note: Follow package directions on sugar substitute, using suggested amounts to replace ¼ cup sugar.

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Information per serving: 84 calories, 0 g total fat, 21 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g protein, 0 g fiber, 15 mg sodium. Daily Values: 0% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 2% iron

Nutrition Information per serving with sugar substitute: 74 calories, 0 g total fat, 18 g carbohydrate, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g protein, 0 g fiber, 15 mg sodium. Daily Values: 0% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 2% iron

Tags: cherry juice, tart cherry recipes

Ingredients:
For couscous:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/4 cup minced yellow onion
1 1/2 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
5 ounces whole-wheat couscous (about 1 cup)
For dressing;
1 tablespoon cherry juice concentrate
1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons canola oil

For salad:
1/2 cup chopped dried tart cherries
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped pistachios
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:
Prepare couscous:
In a quart saucepan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion and sauté for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Add couscous, stir, cover and remove from heat. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Transfer to a mixing bowl to cool.

Prepare dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together cherry juice concentrate, lemon juice and mustard. Whisk in oil until emulsified. Set aside.

Assemble:
Add dressing and remaining ingredients to the couscous and mix well. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Info:
Calories 142, Total Fat g 6, Sat Fat g 0, Chol mg 0, Sodium mg 180, Total Carb g 21, Fiber g 3, Sugars g 7, Protein g 3

Tags: cherry juice, cherry recipes, dried cherries

Try this Easy & Healthy Cherry Smoothie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup non-fat plain or vanilla yogurt
1 ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup King Orchards Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice Concentrate
1 cup crushed ice

Put yogurt, banana, orange juice, cherry juice concentrate and crushed ice in the container or an electric blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Serve immediately. Makes 2 (8 ounce) servings.

Notes: This smoothie can be frozen in popsicle containers. Serve as a frozen treat, or allow to thaw and drink as a smoothie.

Tags: cherry juice, cherry recipes, cherry smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried tart cherries, chopped
• 1/3 cup tart cherry juice
• 2 cups low-fat pancake mix
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 cup granola
• 1 whole egg
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk (or light plain or vanilla soymilk)
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons sliced almonds

Salsa Ingredients

• 2/3 cup dried tart cherries
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup dried wild blueberries
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup tart cherry juice
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• 3 (2 inch) pieces stick cinnamon
• Dash of ground cloves
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat griddle.
2. In a small sauce pan over medium-high heat, stir cherries and juice until cherries are plump and juice is absorbed. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix pancake mix, wheat germ, granola, egg, egg substitute and milk until blended. Add cherries and almond extract and blend.
4. Spray heated griddle with cooking spray. Portion 1/3 cup batter onto surface, cook until bottom is golden brown, then turn and cook until golden. Top with favorite syrup and sprinkle with almonds.
5. For Salsa: Combine cherries, cranberries, blueberries, 1 1/2 cups water, the cherry juice, brown sugar, stick cinnamon and cloves in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; gently simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
6. Stir together 1/3 cup water and the cornstarch. Add cornstarch mixture to cherry mixture. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; gently simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; remove stick cinnamon.
7. Serve mixture warm over pancakes, waffles, French toast, hot cereal or ice cream.

Courtesy of The Cherry Marketing Institute

“Dried cherries are a great heart-healthy addition to your favorite pancake or breakfast bread batter. Top with a warmed Super Fruit salsa of dried cherries, cranberries and blueberries for an added antioxidant boost.”

Tags: cherry recipes