Sour Cherries in Syrup Bulk

This amarena variegato tecnica is specially crafted for making artisanal gelato. Variegato refers to the swirl or ribbon of sauce in gelato, which is used to add an extra flavor dimension.

Amarene (sour cherries), referred to as visciole in the municipiality of Cantiano, are known here as the dark red Morello cherries. These wild cherries grow on trees smaller than those of regular cherries. The fruit itself is small, crimson-near-black in color, and extremely acidic raw.

After removing the small stone from the fruit, the pitted cherries are set to drain overnight. The next day, the resulting juice is blended with sugar and reduced until thick. Once the syrup has cooled down, the pitted cherries are mixed in with a special blend of spices, brought to a simmer, and tinned while still hot. A short pasteurization takes place, and then the tins are placed in a cool storage room for two months to let the flavors macerate.

This decadent, pure preserve has the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. It has the rich flavor of baked cherries, with a hint of cinnamon, clove, and lemon. The juicy cherries in a very dense, rich syrup also make a sumptuous topping for desserts and interesting ingredient for cocktails.