
By SilentOwl
The wild cherry is also known as the bird cherry as they are used as a food source by a huge amount of bird species. You have to be quick if you want to beat the birds to the abundant crop that results from a good spring and summer, and they are often picked when they are still a yellowish red colour before they ripen to a deep reddish purple. They can be used in pies, wine, liquors and even a dessert soup.
Wild cherries were both used to flavour alcoholic drinks such as whisky or gin, and cherry Brandy can easily be made by filling a bottle with wild cherries, adding sugar, topping up with brandy and leaving for a few months.
The resin which leaks from the trunk was formerly used by children as chewing gum.
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