The sweetest cherry varieties you can find are Rainier and Bing. Rainier cherries hold the top spot for sugar content among all cherries you can buy or grow. If you want the sweetest possible cherry eating experience, these two should top your list every time you shop.
I have tasted dozens of cherry varieties over my years of growing them. When I first bit into a tree-ripened Rainier, I was shocked by how sweet it tasted. Rainier cherry sweetness hits your tongue like honey with a hint of vanilla. Bing cherries deliver a richer, deeper flavor with their dark red flesh. Both taste amazing, but the Rainier wins for pure sugar punch. I did a side-by-side test with my family last summer. Everyone picked the Rainier as their favorite for sweetness while the Bing won for depth of flavor.
The ripeness of your cherry matters as much as the variety itself. A Rainier picked too early tastes flat and dull. A Rainier picked at peak ripeness tastes like candy straight from the tree. You can spot a ripe Rainier by its yellow and red blush colors. The fruit should feel heavy for its size and give a little under your thumb. That weight tells you the sugar content has reached its peak and the cherry is ready for eating.
Scientists measure sweet cherry sugar content using degrees Brix. This scale tells you how much sugar is dissolved in the fruit juice. Rainier cherries can reach up to 22 degrees Brix at full ripeness. Most other sweet cherry varieties land between 14-18 degrees Brix instead. That means Rainier cherries can contain up to 50% more sugar than average sweet cherries. You can taste that difference the moment you bite into one.
USDA research on cherry collections shows just how much cherry Brix levels can vary between trees and varieties. Their studies found sugars ranging from 11.4 to 22.63 degrees Brix across types. Your growing conditions affect these numbers too. Cherries grown in warm, sunny climates with good water develop more sugar. Trees put energy into fruit when they have plenty of light to work with. Cool, cloudy summers produce less sweet fruit even from the exact same variety.
Among the sweetest cherry varieties, you should also try Lapins, Sweetheart, and Chelan. Lapins cherries come close to Bing in sweetness with a firm texture that holds up well. Sweetheart ripens late in the season and extends your cherry window into August. Chelan matures early and gives you sweet fruit in June before other varieties are ready. Each one offers something different for your taste buds as you move through the summer months.
Your cherries will always taste sweeter when you let them ripen on the tree until the last possible moment. Store-bought cherries get picked early so they survive shipping without going soft. That early picking means lower sugar content in every bite you take. Farmers market cherries often taste much better than store ones. Local growers can wait for full ripeness before picking their fruit for you. Growing your own trees gives you the sweetest cherries possible when you wait for that perfect moment.
Want the sweetest cherries you can get? Plant a Rainier tree in your yard if your climate supports it. Buy from local farmers when you can find them at markets. Look for cherries with deep color and firm flesh that give a little when you press them. A truly ripe sweet cherry holds the most sugar it can contain. That perfect sweetness is worth waiting for and seeking out at every chance you get throughout cherry season.
Read the full article: 15 Cherry Tree Varieties for Your Garden
