And while it has a lot of new fans in 2025, it's been the focus of research for more than a decade, with scientists looking into its purported ability to relieve muscle pain, gout and gut inflammation, as well as lower blood pressure and promote sleep.

If you're from Michigan, you probably don't need an introduction to the tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), as the state is the largest producer in the US of this stone fruit and its associated products, which include juice and supplements. And while research into its status as a superfood dates back almost two decades, it's found a new level of fame in the past year on the back of a viral video by this TikTok creator. This in turn sparked journalists from dozens of media outlets to road-test the tart cherry "Sleepy Girl Mocktail" to see if it lived up to the hype.

However, research into the health benefits of the tart – also known as the sour, dwarf and, in the US, the Montmorency – cherry has produced some interesting results that warrant a closer look.

The Sleepy Girl Mocktail may sound a little glib, but the cherry's nutritional profile makes it a genuine candidate as a natural way to boost sleep quality. A 2023 meta-analysis of research found that, overall, the fruit may help relieve insomnia and other sleep issues. Scientists have been looking into this aspect of the fruit since at least 2011.

"Whilst individuals may subjectively not experience a benefit, objectively, there is evidence to support significant improvements to total sleep time and sleep efficiency," noted the authors of the 2023 paper. "Notably, the benefits were observed across all age groups. This review demonstrates the therapeutic benefit of tart cherries and their potential for the reduction of sleep deprivation-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Further research is required to ascertain whether the benefits are retained after long-term supplementation and the exact mechanism of action."

Tart cherries contain melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate our wake/sleep cycles. In addition to this, it boasts a small but not insignificant amount of the essential amino acid tryptophan, a serotonin and melatonin precursor. While this 2019 study found that tart cherry supplements could relieve insomnia, more research is needed. (It's also worth noting that this study was in part funded by "Big Cherry" – the Cherry Marketing Institute – however it had no involvement in trial design.)

While this potential benefit is perhaps what's fueled the fruit's surge in popularity, it's not the only one that scientists have investigated. Like many berries, it's rich in antioxidants and as an extract has demonstrated it could be a valuable tool in lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. This 2023 meta-analysis of randomized trials supports this, though cautions that more dose-dependent research is needed.