Everything you've ever wanted to know about strawberries—where they come from and why we love them so much

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” With this line from*Romeo and Juliet*,WilliamShakespearepointsout the futility of labels. But perhaps there was another message hidden in those two lines. For example, that the strawberry plant actually belongs to the rose family and, most importantly, that none of it really matters if you want to learn how to make the most delicious dishes with these little gems.  In this blog, you’ll get an overview of everything you really want to know about the strawberry—the world’s most widely consumed berry (because, yes, if you really want to categorize it, it’s a berry)—why a strawberry tastes the way it does and why we love it so much, when it’s at its best, and how you can incorporate strawberries into your dishes. 

An Analysis of Taste

Fruity, sweet, with a floral flavor and, somewhere in the background, even a subtle hint of caramel. That’s how you might describe the taste of a ripe strawberry. This flavor arises from the interplay of several volatile compounds. One of those compounds is furaneol—the English name for strawberry furanone—and, for those in the know: 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone. 🙂

Strawberries share this flavor component with many other types of fruit, as well as with chocolate and soy sauce, for example, and it is responsible for their characteristic sweet and fruity taste. It is also one of the most appreciated flavor compounds. This is likely because furaneol is also found in breast milk, so a preference for it is instilled from an early age. 

As strawberries ripen, the concentration of furaneol increases. This results in a flavor that becomes increasingly full-bodied and rich, ultimately developing that caramel-like undertone I mentioned earlier.  Heat also causes an increase in furaneol. Think of the flavor of warm fruit, such as fruit grilled in the oven—as in these fruit dishes— oron the barbecue. That’s immediately and surprisingly different from the flavor of its fresh counterpart. 

Strawberries in Art

The world is at your fingertips… or at your feet, like the strawberries in various paintings of Mary. In many works of art, strawberries symbolize perfection and love. The personal virtue of “faithfulness” has also been symbolized by strawberries. This brings us back to a work by Shakespeare. In his play*Othello*, jealousy, love, and betrayal were the central themes; a handkerchief embroidered with small strawberries served as a sign of faithfulness. 

History

Modern strawberries trace their origins to two American strawberry varieties. It was European explorers who, in the early seventeenth century, were completely captivated by the taste and shape of the North American strawberry speciesF. virginiana. They brought it back with them to Europe. In 1712, the Frenchman Amédée-François Frézier encountered the speciesF. chiloensisduring an expedition to Chile. The strawberry was well-received, and by around 1750 in Plougastel, in the region of Brittany, strawberry cultivation had become a promising business venture. This Chilean strawberry variety spread throughout Europe. A cross between these two American “souvenirs” produced the variety from which many of today’s strawberries are descended:F. x Ananassa. The “x” in the name indicates the cross, and“Ananassa” refers toits pineapple-like aroma. 

Flowering period

Some strawberries in Belgium mainly bear fruit in May and June, while another variety produces fruit from June through September. Outside the strawberry season in Belgium, they are imported from Spain, Morocco, and Italy. Strawberries have a sweet and rich flavor, especially during the summer months. As a result, imported strawberries are usually considered to have less flavor.

Cultivation

Strawberries can be grown in glass greenhouses, which extends the growing season from March to June and from October to December. Strawberries can also be grown in open fields, with or without a plastic tunnel covering them to help retain heat. A raised-bed planting system is another option for growing strawberries. The main advantage of this method is that harvesting is less labor-intensive because you don’t have to bend over as much to pick the strawberries. The strawberries are usually more attractive as well, since they aren’t lying on the ground in the sand. 

How to Store

Strawberries have a thin skin, which makes them delicate and limits their shelf life. They generally last about 1 week in the refrigerator. As with everything, the same rule applies here: the fresher, the better. 

Recipe Ideas with Strawberries

If you’re now super excited to get started with these red little wonders, you can find tons of inspiration on my blog. For example, here’s how I use strawberries in the most delicious:

• Strawberry Crumble
• Pasta Salad with Cottage Cheese
• Salad with arugula, strawberries, and feta cheese
• Summer Drink with Grapefruit and Strawberries 
• Summer Salad (with Strawberries)

Sources:

Wild Strawberry – Fragaria vesca | Province of West Flanders. (n.d.).https://www.west-vlaanderen.be/bosaardbei-fragaria-vesca

Strawberry | NVBT. (n.d.).https://www.botanischetuinen.nl/nl/plant/21702/aardbei

From the Archives: The Rise of the Strawberry. (April 4, 2020). Veldverkenners.https://veldverkenners.be/nl/nieuws/uit-de-oude-doos-de-opkomst-van-de-aardbei

 Strawberry – Product Knowledge | Gastronomixs | Inspiration for chefs. (February 1, 2024). Gastronomixs.https://www.gastronomixs.com/nl/kennis/warenkennis/aardbei

On the Schedule: How (Un)Environmentally Friendly Is Strawberry Farming? (April 4, 2020).Veldverkenners.https://veldverkenners.be/nl/nieuws/op-de-rooster-hoe-milieuonvriendelijk-worden-aardbeien-geteeld

 McGee, H. (2004). *On Food and Cooking: An Encyclopedia of Kitchen Science, History, and Culture*. Hodder & Stoughton.

Coucquyt, P., Lahousse, B., & Langenbick, J. (2020).The Art & Science of Food Pairing: 10,000 Flavor Matches That Will Transform the Way You Eat. Mitchel Beasley.