Description
The Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO is a cherry from a hybrid of the cerejeira brava (Prunus avium L.) and other varieties in the Portalegre region.
Production Area
Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO cherries grow in the municipal areas of Marvão, Castelo de Vide and Portalegre, in the Portalegre district.
Production Method
The quality of Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO cherries depends very much on all the care given to the trees by the local cherry farmers. They need attention in November, February, and April and, during wet summers, in July too. They are sprayed at three different periods of the year and have to be pruned twice a year. The cherries are harvested from the middle of June to the end of July directly from the tree and placed in special, protective wooden baskets.
Appearance and Flavour
Cereja de São Julião- Portalegre PDO is a black cherry with much accentuated pigmentation which is clearly visible on the inside of the fruit. It is very sweet, round in shape, has a long stem and weighs between 5 gr and 8 gr.
History
It is a long time since the people of the S. Mamede area discovered how well the Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO cherry tree thrived in the Alentejo climate. It was once very common to hear of places like Vale do Rodão, Ribeira de Nisa, Monte Carvalho and S. Julião referred to as important cherry growing centres. However the exodus of the population from the country side together with increased labour costs and decrease in demand led to a decline in the number of orchards. However there are still 30 to 40 year old trees to be found here today and they continue to produce excellent fruit. Today there are approximately 23 cherry farmers and, thanks to the award of the European certification of origin, the number of orchards is beginning to grow.
Gastronomy
Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO cherries must be kept in a cool, dry place. They are usually eaten fresh after meals or as a snack but they are also used in recipes for desserts and jams.
Marketing
These cherries are sold as Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO in these categories: Category I (17 mm minimum) and Extra (20 mm minimum). They are sold in wooden boxes lined with paper in weights of 2 kg and 5 kg.
Distinctive Features
The distinctive features of the Cereja de São Julião - Portalegre PDO cherry are its black colour, its particular pigmentation and its unmistakable flavour and sweetness.
