Lykkers, have you ever looked at a glass of cherry juice glowing in the sunlight and thought, “I want to make that”? Today, let’s walk through a step-by-step guide to making Fresh Cherry Juice that’s not only healthy and colorful but also a true taste of summer.

With just a few ingredients and tools, we can create a bright, refreshing drink to enjoy at home. Let’s get started!

What Are We Making?

We’re making a fresh cherry juice—pure, sweet, slightly tangy, with no artificial flavors or preservatives. It’s perfect to drink cold, serve to guests, or even use as a base for other fruit drinks. The process is simple, but the result is beautiful: a ruby-red juice that feels like a glass of sunshine.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Let’s prepare the essentials first. Here’s what we’ll need for about 4 cups (1 liter) of fresh cherry juice:

Ingredients:

- Fresh cherries (sweet and/or sour): 1.5 kg (about 3.3 pounds)

- Sugar (optional): 2–4 tablespoons, depending on taste

- Water: 1/2 cup, only if using a blender

- Lemon juice (optional): 1 tablespoon, to brighten flavor and preserve color

Tools:

- A cherry pitter (or a chopstick tip)

- Large bowl

- Blender or juicer (or a sieve and spoon if doing manually)

- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth

- Glass jars or bottles for storing juice

- Saucepan (for heating if you want to pasteurize the juice)

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Fresh Cherry Juice

Let’s walk through each step clearly and simply.

Step 1: Wash and Pit the Cherries

We start by rinsing the cherries under cold water. Remove the stems and use a cherry pitter or a chopstick tip to push out the pits. Make sure to discard any cherries that are too soft or have brown spots.

Step 2: Choose Your Method (Blender or Juicer)

We have two easy ways to juice:

- Using a blender: Place the pitted cherries in the blender with 1/2 cup water. Blend until smooth.

- Using a juicer: Just feed the cherries into the machine and collect the juice—no water needed.

Step 3: Strain the Juice

To get a clear, smooth juice, pour the blended cherries through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a bowl. Use a spoon to press and squeeze out all the juice. This step removes skins and pulp.

Step 4: Adjust the Taste (Optional)

Now it’s time to taste. If it’s too tart, we can add sugar gradually (start with 2 tablespoons). A bit of lemon juice can enhance freshness and help the juice stay bright red.

Step 5: Pasteurize for Longer Storage (Optional)

If we want to store the juice for a few days, heat it gently in a saucepan until it reaches about 75–80°C (167–176°F)—don’t boil. Then let it cool and pour into clean glass bottles. Store in the fridge.

Serving Suggestions – Make It Special

We can pour this juice into clear glasses and serve it chilled. For a special touch, add:

- Ice cubes

- A slice of lemon or lime

- Mint leaves on top

- Or mix it with sparkling water for a fizzy version

This juice is great for breakfast, after exercise, or as a natural afternoon refreshment.

Useful Tips for Success

- Use mixed cherries (sweet and sour) for the best flavor balance

- Don’t soak cherries too long before juicing—less than 30 minutes is ideal

- If using frozen cherries, let them thaw completely before blending

- Want deeper color? Try gently heating cherries before juicing (hot press method)

Let’s Raise Our Glasses, Lykkers!

Now we know how to make a beautiful glass of cherry juice from scratch—fresh, simple, and full of love. It’s easy, fun, and something we can share with our family and friends. So Lykkers, have you tried making cherry juice before? Would you go with the blender, or are you a juicer fan? Let’s talk in the comments and share our favorite cherry juice moments. Let’s toast to homemade joy—cheers!