Differences Between Cherry and Sweet Cherry

1. Botanical Classification

Cherry: Cherry typically refers to the Chinese cherry and belongs to the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus, and the Prunus subgenus. Common varieties include Hongdeng and Meizao. The fruit is relatively small, with colors ranging from light red to deep red.

Sweet Cherry: Sweet cherry typically refers to European sweet cherries and also belongs to the Rosaceae family, Prunus genus, and the Prunus subgenus. Varieties like Bing and Rainier are common. The fruit is generally larger with colors like dark red and purple-black.

2. Appearance Features

Fruit Size

Cherry fruit usually has a diameter of around 1 - 1.5 cm. In contrast, sweet cherry fruits are larger, typically ranging from 2 - 3 cm.

Color

Cherry fruit is usually bright and ranges from light red to dark red. The skin is thin and transparent. Sweet cherries, on the other hand, have darker colors, such as dark red or purple-black, with thicker skin.

Pedicel (Fruit Stem)

The pedicel of cherries is relatively short, whereas the pedicel of sweet cherries is longer and thinner.

3. Taste and Flavor

Sweetness

Cherries generally have a lower sweetness level, ranging from 12 to 16 degrees Brix. In contrast, sweet cherries are much sweeter, with sweetness levels ranging from 16 to 20 degrees Brix.

Crispness

Cherries have a softer texture