Discovered in the Pontus region, on the southern shores of the Black Sea, the cherry was introduced to Rome by Lucullus in around 60 BC. It was so widely acclaimed that it was introduced to other provences, including varieties grown in Germany and Belgum. There are also records of cherries being established in Britian by AD 46! (1)
In his Natural History, Pliny cited the cherry's medicinal and culinary qualities.
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(1) Ancient Roman Gardens; Linda Farrar;1998; p142