Maraschino Cherry

A maraschino cherry, in the modern United States, commonly refers to a preserved, sweetened cherry, typically made from light-colored sweet cherries such as the Royal Ann, Rainier, or Gold varieties. In their modern form, the cherries are first preserved in a brine solution usually containing sulfur dioxide and calcium chloride to bleach the fruit, then soaked in a suspension of food coloring (common red food dye, FD&C Red 40), sugar syrup, and other components. Green maraschino cherries use a mint flavoring.[1] Maraschino cherries are an ingredient in many cocktails, giving them the nickname: "Cocktail cherries." As a garnish, they often are used to decorate frozen yogurt, baked ham, cakes, pastry, parfaits, milkshakes, ice cream sundaes, and ice cream sodas. They are frequently included in canned fruit cocktail.[2] They are also used as an accompaniment to sweet paan, and sometimes, along with some of the maraschino "juice," put into a glass of Coca-Cola to make an old-fashioned or homemade "Cherry Coke".

(Ingredient Description Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maraschino_cherry)