While you would think marachinos would be free of gluten, they may contain gluten in their additives or from processing in a factory that processes gluten-containing products. Legally, they only need to disclose wheat, not barley or rye on their labels. If you find a jar of marachino cherries that does not disclose any wheat, go ahead and still contact the manufacturer to find out if it is safe for you to consume (if you are gluten intolerant). However, there are safe brands available.
I am thrilled to learn that you can now purchase marachino cherries that are free of artificial dies, corn syrup, preservatives. They are made in a facility free of gluten and the top 8 allergens. Royal Harvest’s has a line of natural marachino cherries without artificial colors, preservatives, Nature’s Marachino Cherries.
To preserve the cherries, they use malic acid which is an organic compound made by all living things. Malic acid gives off a sour/tart taste.
They are available in packages or jars.
Not only do they offer red cherries, but burgundy, pink, and yellow…
Pink Blush – A portion of the sales of this product is donated towards breast cancer awareness. The unique color and bright taste of Pink Blush is made 100% from natural food sources. But what makes Pink Blush special is its association with helping find a cure for breast cancer. Whether you add Pink Blush as a baking ingredient, table garnish or simply display it as a party snack, the festive sweet cherry flavor is fun and entertaining. Try Pink Blush with the following flavors: (foods) almond, citrus, peach, mint, sour cream; (wines) Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Champagne; (liquors) Vodka, Gin, Armagnac.
Their golden Rainier maraschino has a delicate, fruity flavor with hints of pear, citrus and an alluring vanilla scent.
Standard Red Cherries are also available.
The glazed cherries that I used to purchase that I was told were gluten-free, turned out not to be (they were made in a facility that processed wheat products) costs $4.99 per pound ($9.98 per 2 pounds).
You can purchase Nature’s marachino cherries for a pack of 8 4-ounce packages for $31.99. That’s $16 per pound. I think it’s totally worth it. Now I can have marachino cherries that are not only gluten free, but free of chemicals, dies, and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).