A Berry British Summer ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏  | A Berry British Summer It’s only Day 6 of Wimbledon and, if you’re anything like us, you’ve already polished off enough strawberries to fill Centre Court. Sweet, juicy and incredibly versatile; the reigning champion of British berries is as essential to summer as clementines are to Christmas. But where did our national obsession all begin? We thought you’d never ask...
Before the days of deep freezers and acres of polytunnels the British strawberry season was short, sweet and largely determined by the weather. As one of the few Food Halls to sell strawberries in 1960s London, Fortnum's extensive preserve collection was borne out of the need to prolong fruit beyond picking-season and our kitchens spent early summer transforming soft fruit into syrups, preserves and concentrates for later consumption.
| | | | Fruity Fortnum's Facts - Strawberries are the only fruit to have seeds on the outside – the average berry has around 200!
- Fortnum’s have used the same 5 varieties of British strawberry for decades - Elsanta, Honeoye, Symphony, Everest and Evie.
- They’re richer in vitamin c than oranges.
- Fortnum’s classic Strawberry Preserve has been around since the 1800s and remains one of our most popular jars today.
- Wimbledon will dish out nearly 200,000 servings of strawberries to tennis fans enjoying the action at SW19 this fortnight alone. | | | Rumour has it... Strawberries have been associated with romance long before Valentine’s Day was ever on the calendar, for which we must thank William Shakespeare and his countless literary references to ‘the good strawberries’. A symbol of love and fertility due to their shape, seeds and colouring, ancient folklore dictates that if two people share a single strawberry they are destined to fall in love which we must admit is a rather beautiful notion. | | |  | | | | Surprising Serving Suggestions Nothing screams summer like a mountain of strawberries swimming in cream, but it would be foolish to think that’s all they’re good for. Here are 3 alternative serving suggestions to try this strawberry season...
1. A drizzle of good quality balsamic can transform even the most mediocre berries; the acidity intensifies their natural sweetness.
2. Pop a strawberry in your Champagne flute and top with fizz! They become beautifully iridescent and complement the natural dryness of Champagne.
3. Toss through leafy greens and top with shavings of parmesan for a chef-approved salad.
| | |  | | Handy Hacks 1. For longer-lasting berries...Store in an airtight container or glass mason jar.
2. For sweeter berries... Always serve at room temperature. It enhances their natural sugars!
3. For fresher berries... When storing strawberries lay them on a paper towel to help absorb any excess liquid. Moisture accelerates spoiling.
| | | | | Product Picks |  | Fortnum's Strawberry & Champagne Preserve | | | | |  | Black Tea with Strawberry, Loose Leaf Caddy | | | | | | |  | One Last Thing... There’s always something delicious going on at Fortnum’s Food & Drink Studio. Here’s Chef Roger perfecting a crop of Strawberry & Champagne Jellies... | | | | |  | #Fortnums is Made for Sharing Every day is a delicious adventure with Fortnum's.
Follow our journey and share your own. |  | | |   |
