Vanda

Apparently, someone couldn't get enough of Van, while someone else couldn't get enough of Kordia. Both are excellent sweet cherry varieties, each with its own strengths – and a few characteristics we could happily live without.

So what happens when you combine the two? How badly could it go – or, perhaps more importantly, just how good could it become?

The answer is Vanda.

This is an exceptionally productive variety with beautiful, medium-sized cherries that stand out from the crowd. And the flavour? It certainly lives up to its parentage.

Vanda ripens a little earlier than most of our main cherry varieties, yet has a character all of its own. Beneath the sweetness is a distinct, refreshing acidity that adds another dimension to the flavour compared with many other varieties ripening at the same time.

There is one trick, though: you need to be patient. The cherries should be allowed to hang until they are almost black. It may look as though you've waited just a little too long – but that is exactly when Vanda really comes into her own.

And at that point, it is heavenly.

- A little exotic and still relatively unknown
- Beautiful fruit that should be allowed to turn almost black – then it is heavenly
- Exceptionally high yields
- The best of both worlds