Cherry Republic Traverse City

Cherry Republic is an iconic establishment that has become a mecca for cherry enthusiasts seeking a taste of Michigan’s famous Montmorency tart cherry. After all, Traverse City isn’t called the world’s cherry capital for nothing. With multiple locations across Northern Michigan, Traverse City houses the flagship store downtown. For an immersive cherry experience, visitors can explore the Glen Arbor location, which features a tasting room.

The store showcases an impressive selection of over 200 cherry-based products, from chocolate-covered cherries and BBQ sauces to salsas, baked goods, and condiments. Their Original Cherry Salsa is a must-try specialty among their celebrated products, featuring a balanced blend of sweet and spicy.

Traverse City Whiskey

Traverse City Whiskey Company, a small batch distillery based in Traverse City, Michigan, takes great pride in its connection to the Cherry Capital of the World and strives to infuse the essence of the region’s renowned cherries into its spirits.

The founder, Chris Fredrickson, and his team go the extra mile by directly incorporating more than ten pounds of Montmorency sour cherries into barrels of aged whiskey immediately after harvest. As a result, Traverse City Whiskey Co. is known for its Barrel Proof Cherry Whiskey. Whiskey aficionados appreciate this cherry-flavored whiskey for its exceptional quality and flavor.

Moomers Homemade Ice Cream

I recently visited Moomers in the cherry capital for the first time. When it comes to cherry-based delights, Moomers Homemade Ice Cream doesn’t disappoint. They have over 150 flavors in their rotation, with 20 available daily. Moomers has earned a reputation as a beloved ice cream parlor recognized for its tasty desserts and picturesque surroundings. We loved sitting out on their patio and enjoying the view on the warm sunny May day.

Located on a farm in Traverse City, Moomers takes pride in producing its ice cream using milk processed on the premises in their creamery. The parlor offers a rotating selection of flavors. The availability of specific cherry flavors may vary depending on the day and season. “Cherry Moobilee,” a fan-favorite flavor, gained popularity after Moomers won America’s Best Scoop on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Moomers also has several other cherry flavors in its offerings—creamline cherry almond, black cherry, cherry cheesecake, cherry praline pecan, cherry explosion, very cherry, and amaretto cherry. As a special treat, I’d recommend getting an ice cream flight, a sample size of five flavors of your choice.

Grand Traverse Pie Company in the Cherry Capital

Grand Traverse Pie Company excels at capturing the rich, natural flavors of Traverse City’s cherries in their pies. The company’s original shop on West Front Street provides a charming and inviting setting with an open-air design, allowing customers to witness the pie-making process firsthand as the kitchen operates in full view.

I love that I can get Grand Traverse Pie Company pies in my hometown of Lansing. They have two locations in the area—one in Okemos and one in downtown Lansing.

The Grand Traverse Cherry Crumb is the company’s top-selling pie, made with tart Michigan Montmorency cherries and a toasty crumb topping. It is known as the signature pie of the National Cherry Festival each year. Another popular flavor is the Cherry Vernors Pie, which mixes cherries, ginger, and the famous Vernors flavor and one topped with a lovely lattice crust.

Last summer, I became addicted to this Cherry Vernors Pie, which features two characteristically Michigan flavors in one pie. The Vernors gives the cherries a little added zing, which I loved.

Whether it’s the classic cherry pie, creative variations like cherry crumb pie, or cherry streusel pie, Grand Traverse Pie Company offers a range of options to satisfy every cherry lover’s cravings. Don’t worry if you can’t eat a whole pie. They offer these in the minis too.

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