All sweet cherries are best eaten out of hand, popped into you mouth as a snack or simple dessert. See when to expect which sweet cherries below. Learn more about all cherries with the Guide to Cherries.
Bing Cherries
Photo © Rosanna Nafziger
Bing cherries are the leading commercial sweet cherry. They are firm, juicy, large, and a deep mahogany red when ripe. They have a distinctive heart shape. Bings are intensely sweet, with a vibrant flavor.
Chelan Cherries
Photo © Molly Watson
Chelan cherries are early-ripening sweet cherries mostly grown in the Pacific Northwest. They ripen up to two weeks ahead of Bing cherries They are firm, round (rather than heart-shaped), and quite large. Like Bing cherries, they are deeply colored and very sweet.
Lapin Cherries
Lapin cherries are large, mahogany, firm, and quite sweet. They ripen about two weeks after Bing cherries but are only available for a week or two - grab them when they can.Rainier Cherries
Photo © Rosanna Nafziger
Rainier cherries are yellow inside and out, with just a bit of red blush on them, and exceptionally large. They are quite sweet and very firm.
Sweetheart Cherries
Sweetheart cherries are large and bright red. They are late ripening, coming at the end of the cherry season in July. They are very firm with a light, mild sweetness.Lambert Cherries
Lambert cherries are large and firm with an even dark red color throughout. They are sweet enough to eat out of hand, but keep a good texture when cooked. They have a nice long season that runs from mid-June to early August.Tulare Cherries
Photo © Molly Watson
Tulare cherries are less sweet than other sweet cherries, but still a beautiful dark red and delicious.
