Central Asia

Dried Sour Cherry

Prunus cerasus.

Dried fruit.

Part Used

Dried, pitted or unpitted.

Form

Regional Central Asian and Persian-adjacent term varies; often simply 'dried cherry' in trade.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, broader Central Asia.

Tart-sweet, deeply fruity.

Addition to rice dishes and some meat preparations for a sweet-tart contrast.

Some regional plov variants; rice pilafs more broadly across the Persianate world.

Saffron, cinnamon, rice.

Add partway through cooking so the fruit softens without disintegrating.

Keeps well over a year sealed and dark.

Dried cranberries or barberries, adjusting for sweetness.

Plays a similar sweet-tart garnishing role to dried barberry but with a softer, less sharply sour profile.

Not a dry blend component; used as a whole-fruit addition.