Alejandro Sanz sings it, being is not the same as being; Cela also said it, being asleep is not the same as being asleep (let's stick with the politically correct version). And the fact is that
there are things that, although very similar, are different.
For example, granola.
Granola and muesli are first cousins but not twin sisters. And yet, many people think they are the same thing. In case anyone on the other side of these lines is unclear about the difference between granola and muesli, I'll explain it in a nutshell: although both share oats as one of their main ingredients, granola is mainly mixed with nuts while muesli is mixed with fruit. Another important difference? The way it is prepared.
Granola is baked on a low heat while muesli is the raw cereal.
As you can see,
details make the difference.
Another of mankind's great doubts (and which we are going to solve today in our Newyorker Diary) is the
difference between cherries and picootas.
The picota is a variety of cherry, one of the latest in Spain, and has its own Protected Designation of Origin, Cereza del Jerte. A cherry with "pedigree" that has been cultivated since the 17th century in the Jerte Valley, in the north of Extremadura.
The picota is something like the
haute couture of the world of cherries. They are grown by hand, on fertile land and watered by crystal-clear streams. Not to mention the pure air they breathe every day at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres.
Then, when the picota has reached optimum maturity, it is harvested by hand in chestnut baskets, selected one by one at the foot of the tree. In other words, the most exquisite Haute Couture brought to the Jerte Valley.
How to distinguish a picota from a simple cherry?
What is most noticeable is the absence of the stalk (stalk), as it remains attached to the tree at the time of harvesting. It also has a larger stone, a sweeter flavour, a crunchy texture and a slightly darker, almost black colour.
This is the best time to enjoy this variety of cherries, as they are harvested in July and August.
If you don't like fruit with a very sweet taste, as is my case, you can always opt for other varieties of cherries as they are a little more acidic.
Now that you know the main differences between cherries and picotas and you have learned to distinguish granola from muesli, I suggest a recipe that combines cherries with granola for the perfect summer snack:
yoghurt, cherry and blueberry puree and La Newyorkina granola. I know, your mouth is watering.
In addition to being a super tasty snack, it is a
antioxidant pump because cherries have a high anthocyanin content, to which we can add the antioxidant power of blueberries, as we all know.
Next time you go to the supermarket, fill your basket with cherries or picotas and enjoy this seasonal fruit!
