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Tying a knot in a cherry stem with your tongue is a fun party trick, whether you use it to impress your friends or show off your seductive side. This trick will take some practice but is definitely achievable. To master it, try using either the classic method or the alternative method. For either one, you’ll need to choose a long and pliable stem, place it on your tongue, use your tongue and teeth to manipulate it into a loop, then finish off the knot.
How to Tie a Cherry Stem
Press the stem to the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue to bend it. Bite the bent stem to make it a loop. Use your tongue to push one end of the stem through the loop. Hold one end with your teeth, then pull on the stem with your fingers to tighten the knot.
Steps
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Choose a long, large-tipped stem. The longer your stem is, the easier it will be to tie the knot . Look for a stem between 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm). [1] X Research source You should also look for a stem with larger tips at the ends. This will help you locate and twist the ends with your tongue.
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Use a Maraschino cherry if available. Maraschino cherries are best for knots because the syrup makes their stems already soft and pliable. These are also cheap and generally readily available at bars and parties, so they’ll be available when you want to show off this trick.Advertisement
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Remove the cherry from the stem with care. Gently pull the cherry off of the stem and try to keep the connecting end of the stem as wide as possible. If you accidentally pull off the wider tip of the stem, find a new cherry and try again.
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Soften the stems of fresh cherries first. If you’re using a fresh cherry stem, soften it by holding it in your mouth for 10-30 seconds while chewing and swishing it around. Don’t chew the stem so much that it becomes mushy--you just want it to be malleable.
- Be careful not to swallow the stem while moving it around in your mouth!
- If you’re using fresh cherry stems, make sure they’re room temperature. Practicing too much with refrigerated stems can make your tongue bleed. [2] X Research source
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Lay the stem lengthwise on your tongue and push your tongue up slowly. Place the tip of the stem at the tip of your tongue.Because the stem is lying parallel to your tongue, the motion of pushing up will naturally bend the stem in half. Keep pushing your tongue up until it presses the stem against the roof of your mouth--keep it pressed there. [3] X Research source
- During this step, your lips should remain closed.
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Bite down gently until the two ends of the stem cross over. Hold the stem between your front teeth, where it should form a loop with the ends in an X-shaped crossover. This motion should leave the tips pointing toward the front of your mouth.
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Use the tip of your tongue to push one tip through the loop. While still biting down on the stem with your front teeth, locate and push the longer end of the stem through the loop. [4] X Research source
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Grab one end of the stem with your fingers. Keep biting down on one end as you pull the knotted stem out of your mouth by the other end. This will tighten your knot and keep it intact before you reveal it. [5] X Research source
- Present the tied stem with a flourish, holding the loop so everyone can clearly see the knot.
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Hold one end with your teeth and then put the other end alongside it. This means that the stem will fold in half like a hot dog, with the left tip crossed over the right. The loop of the stem should face outward, sticking slightly out of your mouth.
- Both ends may be even at this step, or you may want to make the left tip longer so it will be easier to locate.
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Use your tongue to move one tip of the stem. Locate the end of the stem that’s on top and use your tongue to push it down, then back up through the loop. The tip should hook down first in order for you to push it up into the loop. This will create a knot.
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Bite and pull away your teeth. Tighten the knot by biting down with your front teeth, then stick out your tongue to reveal the knotted stem. Be careful not to touch it too much before revealing it, as the knot could come apart.
- When you reveal the the tied stem, hold it by the loop to showcase the knot and add a little theatrical flourish.
Community Q&A
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QuestionIs the trick easier with a maraschino cherry?Community AnswerYes, the stem on a maraschino is soft and moist, which makes it easier to work with.
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QuestionCan I pretend to tie the knot by already having it tied and just putting it in my mouth?Community AnswerYou could, but that is classified as cheating. You wouldn't really learn how to do it that way.
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QuestionIs it easy to do with regular cherry stems?Ruby_Fox_07Community AnswerLike anything, it will become easier to do with time and practice. Maraschino cherry stalks are softer, so try practicing with them first.
Video
Tips
Warnings
- Do not let children under age 7 try this, as it is a choking hazard.Thanks
- Be careful not to choke on your cherry stem or pit.Thanks
References
About This Article
To tie a knot in a cherry stem with your tongue, start by removing a large, long-tipped stem from a cherry and holding it in your mouth for 10-30 seconds to soften it. Then, lay the stem lengthwise across the top of your tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. Next, gently bite down until the 2 ends of the stem cross over each other and make an "X" shape near the front of your mouth. Once you've done that, use your tongue to push one end of the stem through the loop. Finally, grab one end of the stem with your fingers and pull on it to tighten the knot. To learn how to tie a knot in a cherry stem using other methods, scroll down!
