Ingredients

Cherry juice is the juice of cherries, often mixed with sugar and water to offset its tartness. Cherry cider uses a small amount of maraschino cherry juice, which comes from cherries cooked in sweet syrup and preserved in real or imitation maraschino liqueur. This is mixed with other juices and spices, and also sometimes with hard alcohol.

Appearance

Because cherry cider often is mixed with apple and orange juices, it can be closer to orange in color than the deep red of cherry juice. Some people prefer to serve cherry juice simply in a juice glass, but cherry cider can be garnished with cherries or other fruits, or even served warm.

Flavor

Cherry juice tastes sour or tart, depending on the variety of cherries used. Sweetened cherry juice is less tart than raw versions. Cherry cider tastes like a tart twist on apple cider, complete with spices and the sweetness of apple and orange juices.

Function

Drink cherry juice for its high antioxidant value and various health benefits, including muscle pain relief. Serve cherry cider at winter holiday parties and other festive occasions as a sweet treat. Most, but not all, of the benefits of cherry juice are lost in cherry cider because so little cherry juice is used.

Cherry Cider Recipe

Mix 4 cups apple cider, ¾ cup orange juice and 1/3 cup maraschino cherry juice in a large pan. Drop a cheesecloth sack of three cloves, three whole allspice and one cinnamon stick into the pan and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes. Remove the spice sac, and pour the cider into six serving mugs. Garnish with an orange slice and/or a cherry.

Source:

Hydroponic Search: Definition of Marschino Cherry

Seek Wellness: Cherry Juice

Taste of Home Recipes: Cherry Cider Recipe