‘Tis the season for cherries and I have decided to make a yoghurt and oil-based cake with these delights. My thoughts wander to swathes of cherry blossom, Japan and then to yuzu and decide to flavour my cake with this tart fruit to compliment the sweet British cherries.

In Japan, like cherry blossom, yuzu is truly loved. It is known for its cleansing and healing properties. It also signifies good luck. There is a special day during ‘toji’ (winter solstice) in Japan when hot springs and public baths all over the country are filled with whole yuzu fruit to celebrate the return of the sun when the darker ‘yin’ days return to ‘yang’. It is said that if one bathes in yuzu and says ‘ichiyo raifuku’ (turn of fortune/return to spring), it not only will prevent illnesses associated with the cold but any bad luck that one had until this day will be swept away and good fortune will return.

Sweet cherries originate from Anatolia (Asia Minor) in the fertile areas between the Black and Caspian seas. It is more than likely that cherry seeds were brought to Europe by birds. The Greeks were the first to cultivate cherries around 70 BCE. Today there are more than 1200 varieties of cherry trees grown around the world. Both the blossom and the fruit are edible and the hardwood is used for making furniture. The fruit can also be used to create dyes.

Cherries contain melatonin so they are great to eat before bedtime as this helps one fall asleep quicker and sleep better.

#GoldenApron23