Tart cherry & your active routine
For the ways you move every day.
Morning walks. Gardening. A round of golf. Your favorite workout. However you stay active, making tart cherry part of your day should be simple.
Discover the exercise-recovery research, then find your favorite way to enjoy FruitFast's Montmorency–Morello tart cherry blend—in a refreshing drink, a smoothie, or an evening mocktail.
Benefits reported in human studies
Why tart cherry gets attention for recovery
A faster return of strength
In a small marathon trial, runners receiving the study’s cherry juice recovered muscle strength faster than the placebo group. A separate concentrate study found faster strength recovery after intensive leg exercise. [2] [3]
The takeaway: returning toward pre-workout strength is one of the most relevant recovery outcomes studied.
Less soreness in some trials
In a trial of 54 relay runners, the tart cherry group reported a smaller increase in muscle pain after the race than the placebo group. Across the broader research, however, soreness benefits have not been consistent. [4] [1]
The takeaway: strength recovery and soreness are different outcomes, even when they are measured after the same workout.
Curious about the fruit itself? Tart cherries contain anthocyanins and other polyphenols—plant compounds examined in exercise nutrition research. [3]
What the evidence means: a 2026 review found better recovery of muscle strength in its main analysis, but no overall reduction in soreness. Most research involves demanding exercise and particular tart-cherry preparations, not FruitFast's current concentrate. Results are not established for every person, product, or activity. [1]
Pure tart cherry concentrate. Your choice of strength.
The FruitFast difference
Two tart cherry varieties.
One 68° Brix concentrate.
Our signature blend brings Montmorency and Morello tart cherries together in one pure concentrate. A thoughtful fruit blend, a short ingredient list, and careful cold handling are at the heart of how we do things.
Family owned in Northern Michigan since 1945.
Your routine. Your choice.
A daily drink—or grab-and-go convenience.
Some customers enjoy the ritual of mixing tart cherry juice, while others prefer the convenience of CherryFlex softgels. Preferences, routines, and individual experiences differ. That's why we offer both.
Choose tart cherry concentrate
Enjoy the flavor in water, sparkling drinks, smoothies, or a cherry mocktail. Make it a familiar part of your day.
Explore Tart Cherry Concentrate →Explore CherryFlex softgels
A portable fruit-based format for busy mornings, travel, or anyone who would rather skip the mixing.
Explore CherryFlex Softgels →Some customers enjoy both formats at different times. Follow each product's current label for ingredients and directions.
Simple to use. Easy to make your own.
Three easy ways to make it your own
An ice-cold cherry drink
Stir your labeled serving into cold water over ice. Refreshing after a walk or workout, with the flavor strength you prefer.
A cherry-berry smoothie
Add concentrate to your usual smoothie with berries, yogurt, or your preferred ingredients for a bright cherry twist.
An evening cherry spritzer
Mix with sparkling water over ice for a simple cherry mocktail. Add citrus or your favorite garnish and enjoy the ritual.
Your bottle, your directions. Serving sizes and mixing ratios vary by product. Follow the label on the concentrate you choose. Our Mixing Guide has more ideas, and our Storage Guide explains how to keep concentrate cold after arrival.
Prefer a tangier drink? Some customers add a splash of apple cider vinegar to their diluted tart cherry drink for extra flavor.
Before you add it to your routine
Should I drink tart cherry before or after exercise?
Why choose concentrate instead of ready-to-drink juice?
Concentrate puts you in control of the final strength and works in both drinks and food. Make a glass when you want it, or use a smaller amount in a recipe.
Does no added sugar mean sugar-free?
No. FruitFast Tart Cherry Concentrate contains naturally occurring fruit sugars. No sugar or other sweetener is added. Check the current Nutrition Facts for the serving you plan to use.
How should I store my concentrate?
Refrigerate or freeze after arrival and follow the package instructions after opening. See our Storage Guide for more detail.
Can I choose CherryFlex instead?
Absolutely. Some customers love a daily cherry drink; others prefer the portability of softgels. Choose the format you enjoy and will find easy to use. Compare CherryFlex and fruit supplement options.
Is the concentrate pasteurized or cold-filled?
Both. The concentrate is flash pasteurized upstream before FruitFast fills it. We then cold-fill our bottles and keep them refrigerated until shipment, rather than hot-filling bottles for shelf-stable storage.
A closer look
The research behind the recovery conversation
What did the 2026 review find?
A review of 19 trials found better recovery of maximum voluntary muscle strength in its main analysis, but no significant overall effect on soreness. Findings differed substantially across trials, some pooled results were sensitive to individual studies, and evidence certainty ranged from very low to moderate. [1]
Which studies reported faster strength recovery?
Marathon runners: Howatson and colleagues studied 20 runners consuming cherry juice or placebo before and after a marathon. Strength recovered faster in the cherry group; other muscle-damage measures, including soreness, did not differ significantly. [2]
Intensive leg exercise: Bowtell and colleagues studied 10 trained men using CherryActive concentrate and a comparison fruit concentrate. Strength recovered faster at 24 and 48 hours with the cherry preparation, while the creatine kinase response did not differ. [3]
Which running study reported less soreness?
Kuehl and colleagues studied 54 relay runners who consumed a tart cherry beverage or placebo twice daily for seven days before the event and on race day. Both groups experienced more pain after running, but the increase was smaller in the cherry group. This was an exercise-pain result from that preparation and schedule, not a universal pain-relief claim. [4]
- Daab et al. (2026). Effects of Tart Cherry Juice Supplementation on Recovery from Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine - Open. Read the review.
- Howatson et al. (2010). Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. Read the study.
- Bowtell et al. (2011). Montmorency cherry juice reduces muscle damage caused by intensive strength exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Read the study.
- Kuehl et al. (2010). Efficacy of tart cherry juice in reducing muscle pain during running: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Read the study.