Dönnissens Gelbe

Yellow sweet cherries are always something of a rarity. But most so-called yellow varieties actually cheat a little – as they ripen, they tend to develop red or pink cheeks, meaning they aren't completely yellow after all.

The man behind this variety, Mr Dönnissen, apparently decided to do something about that.

So he created a cherry that is seriously yellow.

No red cheeks, no pink blush on the sunny side and no hint of another colour. A ripe Dönnissens Gelbe is yellow. Completely yellow. And that makes it quite a sight among all the red and dark cherries during the season.

Fortunately, its appearance isn't the only thing that makes it special. The fruit is medium-sized, exceptionally sweet and pleasantly crisp. It ripens in the latter half of the sweet cherry season and produces moderate yields.

That beautiful pale colour does have a downside, however. The cherries are sensitive to knocks and handling, and it takes very little for brown marks and discolouration to appear on the skin. They therefore need to be handled gently – and preferably not sent on too long a journey.

Like many old varieties, Dönnissens Gelbe may not possess every characteristic demanded by modern fruit distribution.

But it is unmistakably yellow, it tastes fantastic, and it is still here.

That counts for quite a lot.

- Completely yellow – no red cheeks here
- Medium-sized fruit
- Moderate yields
- A relatively late yellow variety
- Exceptionally sweet with a pleasantly crisp texture
- Unfortunately prone to discolouration from knocks and handling
- Old German variety