Ciliegia Marasca (or Amarena)

conserving. Pick the fruits a dark red for jam, and slightly less dark if you wish to preserve them in grappa. In this case cut their delicate stems to leave 1 cm (less than ½"), wipe them, prick each cherry twice with a needle, pack them in glass jars and pour into each jar a small quantity of sugar. Cover with Grappa Giulia and fasten the lids or cork the jars. The cherries colour the grappa and impart to it their taste. Served in glasses, the grappa with a few cherries, at the end of a meal. It is preferable to fill several small jars than one large one, as the intoxicating perfume quickly escapes, once opened. See also Marmellata di ciliegie marasche and Lingue di vitello in salsa di ciliegie marasche.