Foods From Spain
You can extend the cherry season by freezing them. Rinse and drain the cherries thoroughly, then spread them out in a single layer on a baking tray and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cherries to a heavy plastic bag. They'll keep for up to 1 year.
The name Picota describes four different traditional cherry varieties from the Jerte Valley : Ambrunes, Pico Limon Negro, Pico Negro and Pico Colorado . Translated literally the Spanish word 'Pico' means 'pointed', which is reflected in the shape of the cherries.
The famous Picota cherries have two unusual characteristics that make them unique. Firstly, the incredibly intense cherry flavour. In the natural climate of the Jerte Valley they mature for twice as long as other cherries and therefore get twice as much sun to make them juicy and wonderfully sweet.
The second distinctive characteristic of Picota cherries is that they are sold without stalks.
They are carefully picked when fully ripened and the stalks come away naturally without damaging the fruit. As the ripe flesh is completely surrounded by the skin, nature has created, as it were, a special flavour-protector. The missing stalk on the Picota cherry is therefore an indication of perfect ripeness.
