The very taste and smell of strawberries conjures up a sunny English summer.
So for a bit of fun here are some facts about strawberries.

  1. Strawberries and cream were served at Wimbledon during the first tournament in 1877.
  2. Over the Wimbledon fortnight 28,000kg of strawberries are eaten with over 10,000 litres of fresh cream!
  3. The earliest mention of strawberries was in Roman times around 200BC, though as our strawberries come from large American cultivars, it’s unlikely the were the same as we eat now.
  4. In medieval Britain newlyweds enjoyed strawberries, borage and soured cream for their wedding breakfast believing them to be an aphrodisiac.
  5. Strawberries do have health benefits. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese, as well as folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Maybe your Pimms could be one of your 5 a day?
  6. Strawberries contain significant levels of phytonutrients and antioxidants which help to fight free radicals and have anti-inflammatory properties.
  7. Strawberries aren’t true berries. Technically, a berry has its seeds on the inside.
  8. Which ever variety you go for remember to take them out of the fridge a while before serving to give them chance to get to room temperature and for their flavour to develop.
  9. Don’t rinse cut strawberries under water until you’re ready to eat them—it speeds up spoiling.
  10. There is a museum in Belgium dedicated to strawberries!