Nankin cherry unfortunately does not have much in common with real cherries in terms of taste, because the typical cherry aroma is missing. The hairy fruits, which grow on very short stems almost directly on the branch, are juicy and soft, slightly sweet and tart. They can be eaten directly from the bush or made into jam, juice and fruit wine. Unripe fruits are also pickled and added to spicy dishes.

Although seeds and leaves contain prussic acid, there are reports that even the seeds could be eaten raw and roasted – as long as they don’t taste too bitter, indicating a high prussic acid content.

Because of its beautiful flowering, the Japanese almond cherry is also found as an ornamental shrub in gardens and parks and as a bonsai.

• Edible Fruits
• Type of Fruit Drupe
• Culinary Group stone fruits
• Taste sweet sour
• Trivial Names Japanische Mandel-Kirsche, Filz-Kirsche, Nanjing cherry, Nanking cherry, Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, Downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, Mountain cherry, Chinese bush cherry, Chinese dwarf cherry, Ragouminier, Ragoumier, Cerisier du Canada, Cerisier nain du Canada, Minel du Canada, Cerisier de Nankin, ユスラウメ, Anh đào Nam Kinh, 毛樱桃
• Size 1 cm
• Taxonomy Rosaceae (Rose Family) Prunus tomentosa
• Origin East-Asia (Map)
• Locality Botanischer Garten Frankfurt (FRT) 2020