Get ready to celebrate the juiciest time of the year with Cherry Time™! This eagerly awaited season is back, offering the freshest, juiciest cherries carefully harvested by our dedicated growers. Starting in November, these nutrient-packed gems will be available online and in selected retailers nationwide.
Approximately 200 kilometres north of Cape Town, the rugged Cederberg Mountain range surrounds a fertile plateau in the Western Cape Province. Further north, in the Koue Bokkeveld region, Gysbertus du Toit (I) established the foundation for what would become Dutoit Agri, one of South Africa’s largest agricultural businesses, over 130 years ago. Today, we continue to celebrate this wonderful, sweet time that begins with a tiny flower blooming.
Available for a limited couple of months, Cherry Time™ farmers work year-round to ensure cherries reach our tables. The harvesting process is particularly labour-intensive, with cherries being hand-picked to keep each stem intact, then rapidly cooled to maintain firmness and carefully handled to preserve their juicy sweet flavour.
Cherry Time™ cherries add a burst of colour and flavour to summer feasts, whether in decor, gifting, daiquiris, savoury dishes, baking delights, or enjoyed just as they are. Beyond their charm, cherries offer substantial health benefits, providing a guilt-free counterbalance to festive feasting. They are packed with antioxidants, melatonin, potassium, and B-vitamins. Although severe weather has impacted the 2024 harvest, making Cherry Time™ cherries especially limited this season, you can still find them at Checkers, PnP, and on our Cherry Time website from 11 November until the end of December.
As South Africa’s largest cherry grower, Cherry Time™ wishes all their customers a splendid season to remember. Celebrate this Season of Splendour with Cherry Time™!
For more information or to purchase your juicy cherries online, visit Cherry Time.
Collaborations & Events:
- Rapt (15 November – 5 December)
Find Cherry Time™ at Rapt’s Buitenkant Street store, where our cherries will be paired with Rapt’s Choco-o-lattes, flash nitrogen ice cream, and build-a-bar experiences. - Slouch Couch
Upgrade your beach or picnic days with the limited-edition Cherry Time™ Slouch Couch. Limited quantities available from @sitslouch. - Jade Rabbit
Discover exclusive Cherry Time™ signet rings by Jade Rabbit, available for custom order starting 15 November. The first 5 orders come with a complimentary box of cherries! For details, visit www.jaderabbitdesign.co.za. - Me&B
Cherry-inspired fashion awaits with our exclusive Cherry Time™ dress by Me&B. Launching at an event in Cape Town, these cherry-themed pieces will keep you stylish all season. - Mia Melange
We’ve collaborated with Mia Melange to bring you Cherry Time™ phone pouches and key rings—practical accessories with a stylish twist. - Lorraine Loots
Win a stunning cherry-themed print by artist Lorraine Loots! Keep an eye on our socials for a chance to bring this beautiful artwork into your home. - Instant Pot
Enjoy cherry-inspired recipes with our Instant Pot collaboration. Don’t miss giveaways featuring the latest Instant Pot model, ideal for making cherry delicacies at home!
Stay tuned for more cherry-filled updates and prize announcements on our social channels!
5 Fun Facts About Cherry Harvesting
- Hand-Picked Perfection: Each Cherry Time™cherry is carefully hand-picked to ensure the stem remains intact, preserving the fruit’s freshness and extending its shelf life.
- Rapid Cooling: After picking, Cherry Time™ cherries are rapidly cooled to maintain their firmness and juicy flavour, a process crucial for delivering the best quality fruit.
- Delicate Process: Cherry Time™cherries are one of the most labour-intensive fruits to harvest, requiring gentle handling to avoid bruising and damage.
- Night Harvesting: In some regions, Cherry Time™cherries are harvested at night to take advantage of cooler temperatures, which helps in maintaining their quality and freshness.
- Ancient Trees: Some cherry orchards, like those at Cherry Time™, have trees that are over 130 years old, producing delicious cherries season after season.
Cherry Time™ Recipes:
Cherry Time™ Chocolate Mousse Tart
Recipe by: Astrid Field (@thesweetrebellion)
As far as fruit goes, cherries are kind of in their own league! With their juicy sweet flavour and rich ruby colour, they elevate any dish and this Cherry Time™ Chocolate Mousse Tart is no exception. It’s an absolute showstopper and the best part is that achieving the 4 glorious layers requires just 7 ingredients.
The base is a simple chocolate cookie crust, which is topped with a layer of fresh cherry halves. Next is a simple 2-ingredient chocolate mousse, followed by dollops of thick Chantilly cream. To crown it all off, a generous amount of beautiful fresh cherries! And there you have it, a beautiful but simple dessert that combines chocolate and fresh cherries in the most delicious way!
Ingredients:
(serves 8)
For the base:
200g Oreos
60g salted butter, melted
For the Chocolate Mousse Filling:
200g Cherry Time™ cherries, pitted
125g dark chocolate
250ml cream
For the Chantilly Cream:
200ml cream
15 ml icing sugar (1 tbsp)
5ml vanilla extract or essence (1 tsp)
200g fresh Cherry Time™cherries, to decorate
Method:
1.) Process the biscuits until you have fine crumbs. Stir in the melted butter. Press the base into a greased rectangular tart tin.
2.) Slice the cherries in half and set aside.
3.) Finely chop the chocolate and place in a bowl. Heat 100ml of the cream until just starting to bubble.
4.) Pour over the chocolate and wait 1 minute. Whisk the ganache until smooth then cool to room temperature.
5.) Whip the remaining 150ml cream to soft peaks. Stir in 1/3 of the cream into the ganache, then gently fold in the rest.
6.) Place the halved cherries onto the base, then top with the chocolate mousse and spread it evenly.
7.) For the topping, whip the 200 ml cream to soft peaks then add the icing sugar and vanilla essence and beat until stiff.
8.) Just before serving, top the tart with the Chantilly cream and decorate with fresh Cherry Time™ cherries.
Caramel-and -cherry babka topped with cherry vanilla glaze and roasted pistachios
Recipe by: Saadiyah Hendricks (@sadiesbubbleofyum)
Rich, spicy and layered with flavours, this braided loaf is bound to be your new favourite bake. Its cherry-infused glaze, fruity filling and nutty crust means you can get away with serving up a slice any time of the day.
Ingredients:
For the caramel :
200g caster sugar
90g butter
230ml cream, slightly warmed
For the babka:
1 cup pitted and halved Cherry Time™ cherries
½ cup warm water
1 tsp golden caster sugar
1 packet instant yeast
1 egg, plus
1 extra yolk ¼ cup oil
2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp salt
260g bread flour
½ tsp freshly ground nutmeg
egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tsp water)
¼ cup pistachios, roasted
For the cherry-vanilla glaze:
75g butter, melted
250g icing sugar
5 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup pitted and halved Cherry Time™ cherries
To serve: chantilly cream
Method:
1.) For the caramel, place the sugar in a saucepan on medium heat and allow it to melt, stirring occasionally to distribute the heat evenly.
2.) Once the sugar is liquid and amber in colour, remove from the stove and add the butter, whisking to combine.
3.) Add the slightly warmed cream and whisk until completely combined, then pour into a container and allow to cool completely.
4.) For the babka, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the water, sugar and yeast and set aside for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
5.) To the mixture add the eggs, oil, vanilla and honey, and mix until combined.
6.) Add the salt, flour and nutmeg and knead the dough on medium speed for approximately 10 minutes, until it is soft and smooth.
7.) Transfer the dough to a bowl brushed with oil and cover with cling wrap, allowing to rise until doubled in size (approximately 2 hours).
8.) For the glaze, melt the butter in a saucepan, add the remaining ingredients except the cherries, and whisk to combine.
9.) Adjust to your desired consistency with more or less milk and icing sugar.
10.) Add ¼ cup cherries and allow to infuse for 10 minutes, before straining to remove the fruit.
11.) Prepare a loaf pan by spraying with non-stick spray or lightly greasing with oil, then lining with baking paper.
12.) On a floured surface, roll the babka dough out into a rectangle.
13.) Evenly spread the caramel and 1 cup cherries across the dough, leaving a 1.2cm border along all edges.
14.) From the shorter side, carefully roll the dough into a log.
15.) Using a sharp knife, slit the dough in two by cutting it down the middle lengthwise.
16.) Taking the two pieces, twist them around each other to form the babka twist.
17.) Place the babka into the prepared pan and place it in a warm spot, free from drafts, and allow to rise for another 45 minutes.
18.) In the meantime, preheat the oven to 190°C.
19.) Brush with egg wash (avoiding the caramel and cherry swirls) and lightly cover with foil to prevent overbrowning in the oven.
20.) Bake for 25 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for a further 5–15 minutes.
21.) Once removed from the oven, allow the loaf to cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
22.) While on the rack, pour over the cherry-infused glaze and top with roasted pistachios.
23.) Slice and serve with chantilly cream.
ALSO SEE: Wholewheat cherry poppy-seed cake
Feature image: Supplied
