Here’s Why So Many Medicines Are Cherry-Flavored (2024)

Everyone has similar memories of being sick as a child. Whether you were coughing, sneezing, or suffering from a fever, the solution was usually the same: artificially flavored medicine.

Even if your parents reassured you that the cough syrup or antibiotic would taste “just like candy,” you knew then, just as you know now, that’s not the case. Cherry—which tastes nothing like the sweet, delicious fruit—is usually a drug’s masking flavor of choice. There are a few explanations for why the flavor has historically dominated pharmacy shelves.

One reason so many medicines are cherry-flavored is simply because of the power of association. Before the invention of synthetic drugs, medical professionals turned to bold flavors like cherry to mask the taste of bitter herbal medicine. Products like Dr. Swayne’s Compound Syrup of Wild Cherry (circa 1838) used the stone fruit to help make the concoction more palatable.

Though quite some time has passed since those old-timey herbal products were on the market, the practice of using cherry to flavor medicine has remained. It may not be the most appetizing option, but having something to make cough syrup a bit easier to get down is necessary.

According to Pfizer, up to 50 percent of people struggle to swallow medication—and an unappetizing flavor is a contributing factor. It’s a particularly large problem for kids, who may refuse to take even life-saving medication if it means dealing with something unpleasant. In 2009, one Swiss pharmaceutical company introduced a cherry-flavored malaria drug that was more kid-friendly; before it was available, parents had resorted to crushing the life-saving medicine and combining it with sugar to get kids to choke it down.

Cherry certainly isn’t the only flavor drug companies turn to. Grape is another popular option, and you’ll likely see orange and other citrus flavors on store shelves as well.

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Here’s Why So Many Medicines Are Cherry-Flavored (2024)

FAQs

Here’s Why So Many Medicines Are Cherry-Flavored? ›

One reason so many medicines are cherry-flavored is simply because of the power of association. Before the invention of synthetic drugs, medical professionals turned to bold flavors like cherry to mask the taste of bitter herbal medicine.

Why are so many things cherry flavored? ›

A versatile fruit flavor

The popularity of cherry flavor can be partly attributed to its versatility as both a sweet and savory flavoring agent. Its natural sweetness means cherries work especially well in desserts like cakes or pies.

Why is cat medicine cherry flavored? ›

Adding flavoring to a pet's medication eliminates the need for the pet to dry-swallow a pill. When flavoring is added, the capsule, tablet, or liquid prescription is camouflaged in a tasty liquid concoction that will easily slide down the pet's esophagus.

What chemical is cherry flavor? ›

The dominant aroma chemical in cherries is benzaldehyde, which people often associate with cherry flavor.

Why does cherry Flavour not taste like cherry? ›

WHY DOES CHERRY FLAVOUR TASTE NOTHING LIKE REAL CHERRIES? Cherry flavour (Benzaldehyde) was 1st developed to taste not like fresh cherries, but Maraschino 🍒. These are made w both fruit & an infusion of the pips, which taste like almonds. (The two plants are closely related).

Why cherry cough medicine? ›

The main reason for this perspective is usually rooted in their childhood experiences of taking cherry-flavored cough medicine, which taste like the active ingredients (dextromethorphan, camphor, eucalyptus oil, guaifenesin, menthol) top-noted with a benzaldehyde-heavy cherry flavor, which has proven to be the best ...

What does cherry do for mental health? ›

Eating cherry can help you enhance your physical and mental well-being, from controlling sugar levels, reducing excess uric acid to calming your mind.

Why is cherry used in medicine? ›

Sweet cherry fruit is a good source of fiber, potassium, and vitamins, including vitamin C and other chemicals that might act as antioxidants. People use sweet cherry for heart disease, diabetes, gout, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Can I give my cat cherry flavored Benadryl? ›

“Liquid Benadryl may cause foaming at the mouth or drooling because it is often flavored with a sweetener to taste like bubble gum or cherry. Your cat may not like these tastes,” Dr. Bonk says. “Similarly, Benadryl tablets may have a bitter taste that could cause drooling or foaming at the mouth.”

Why can't cats eat cherries? ›

So, why are cherries toxic to cats? Well cherries contain an element called cyanide. If ingested by your cat, it can cause cells in your cat's body to stop taking in oxygen successfully. In some severe cases, the result of ingesting a cherry can be fatal.

Is co*ke a cherry flavor? ›

Coca-Cola® Cherry offers the great taste of Coca-Cola® with a sweet, smooth cherry flavor. Coca-Cola® Cherry is the great taste of Coca-Cola® with sweet, smooth cherry flavor that reminds multicultural youth to experience the variety that is the spice of life.

Is cherry flavor in Dr Pepper? ›

Doctor Pepper is made up of 23 separate flavors, and here they are ranked from normal to weird. Cola, root beer, ginger, vanilla, cherry, lemon, orange, blackberry, caramel, raspberry. Starting to get into the weird ones, plum, rum, nutmeg, molasses, almond amaretto, which is just almond liqueur.

What alcohol has a cherry flavor? ›

Cherry 'brandy' is traditionally the largest category of cherry liqueurs. A confusing term as most of these liqueurs are actually made by macerating cherries in neutral spirit (vodka) rather than brandy. Some might also contain brandy, but in most markets this is not a legal requirement.

Why are so many medicines cherry-flavored? ›

One reason so many medicines are cherry-flavored is simply because of the power of association. Before the invention of synthetic drugs, medical professionals turned to bold flavors like cherry to mask the taste of bitter herbal medicine.

What flavor is closest to cherry? ›

Plums, apricots and nectarines are all excellent choices for replacements. Plums have a similar sweetness and can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. Apricots also have a delicate sweetness, making them ideal for baked goods. Nectarines have a slightly tart flavor that can add depth to sauces and marinades.

Why do Americans love cherry flavour? ›

Because: Cherries are a relatively common American staple, especially in the Midwest, and. Artificial cherry flavor is one of the easiest to produce and most accurate artificial flavors, meaning it's easy to make cherry-flavored whatever.

How popular is cherry flavor? ›

A Quick Look at Berry and Cherry:

Cherry is showing +233% growth in North America new product introductions from Q4 2020 vs Q4 2021.

What is the controversial scene in brand new cherry flavor? ›

When Lisa seduces her love interest – movie star Roy Hardaway, played by Jeff Ward – she asks him to pay specific attention to the wound in her abdomen and touch it while they have sex. While Roy starts off on top, Lisa promptly switches places with him and the scene ends as she stares blankly into the camera.

Why are cherries so expensive right now? ›

High demand for cherries

Some years are heavy yields, and in years where the yield is expected to be lower, you can count on price to be higher. The variety of cherry also plays a role in price. Most grocery stores sell Bing cherries, but Rainier are also popular, though they tend to be even more expensive.

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