Mahaleb cherry
Prunus mahalebMahaleb is used in Europe as rootstock for cherry trees; because it tolerates dry, chalky soil, many cherry orchards actually stand on mahaleb roots.
What is Mahaleb cherry?
Mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb) is a plant of the Rosaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: kernel (seed).
What is Mahaleb cherry used for?
Traditional use: The seed inside the stone of its small fruit is crushed into Easter bread, simit, poğaça and kandil simidi; it is the signature scent of Greek and Armenian festive breads. Scientific evidence: traditional. The seed is rich in coumarin, which gives its scent.
Is Mahaleb cherry safe?
Safety label: generally safe. Safe as a spice. Because of its coumarin, it should not be eaten in large amounts for long periods; people on blood thinners should be careful. Cross-allergy has been reported in people allergic to almonds and other nuts.
Traditional use
The seed inside the stone of its small fruit is crushed into Easter bread, simit, poğaça and kandil simidi; it is the signature scent of Greek and Armenian festive breads.
Arab countries add it to festival biscuits (maamoul) and Greece to the Easter bread tsoureki. Iranian folk medicine uses the seed against kidney stones.
In nature
Mix-up risk
Its fruit looks like small cherries but is bitter. Stones of other wild Prunus species can release cyanide; do not collect kernels in the wild.
Preparation
The seed is pounded or ground just before use; used sparingly so it does not turn bitter.
What science says
The seed is rich in coumarin, which gives its scent. Animal studies show effects against kidney stone formation and gut inflammation. There are no clinical studies in people.
Safety
Safe as a spice. Because of its coumarin, it should not be eaten in large amounts for long periods; people on blood thinners should be careful. Cross-allergy has been reported in people allergic to almonds and other nuts.
Similar plants
Sources
- ResearchAllergic Reactivity to Mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb) Spice in a Subject With Almond and Other Tree Nut Allergies (2020)
- ResearchEffect of Prunus mahaleb Seed Extract on Urolithiasis in BALB/c Mice (Iran J Med Sci 2020)
- BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 3. baskı (yay. haz. F. Baytop Günergun). Ankara: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 2021.
- Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Prunus mahaleb
- Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.
Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe