6 fun facts all strawberry lovers should know
As Wimbledon has now come to an end, we’re shedding some light on the quintessentially British berry fruit.
There is no doubt that strawberries are synonymous with the British summer. Whether it’s celebrating the Queen’s birthday with a fitting strawberry dessert, knocking back 23 tonnes at Wimbledon or piling them into the Pimm's jug, there’s no denying that strawberries are truly the ‘it berry’ of the summer season. Walk into any supermarket from June to September and you’ll find a blanket of the ruby-colored-goodness – Britain loves them.
But whilst we all know they work very well with a glass of bubbly, or a splash of cream – what do we really know this quintessentially British fruit? Here are six interesting facts you probably didn’t know about strawberries and even more reasons to love them.
1. They contain serious amounts of Vitamin C
Although we might think of them as a ‘sweet treat’, did you know that just five strawberries have more Vitamin C than an entire orange?
2. They're ex-seed-ingly good
The average berry has 200 seeds and they are all on the outside of the fruit. It’s the only fruit that wears the seeds on the outside. Technically, because of these outer seeds, they’re not really a ‘berry’ and should have their own class altogether.
3. They have health benefits
Strawberries' bright colour comes from the large amounts of anthocyanidin which recent studies have shown have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. They're not all red
Not all strawberries have to be red. Most the strawberries in the UK are red, but you can also get them in yellow and even white. The white ones are called pineberries and taste more like pineapple than strawberry.
5. They start to ripen in spring
Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring –because they just know we can't wait too long for their pure fruity goodness.
6. Over 166,000 portions were eaten at Wimbledon
They’re sooo popular that over 166,000 portions were sold during the two-week 2018 tournament…
but wait… how can we best enjoy our strawberries?
Strawberries and yoghurt
An absolute classic combination, which can get in the way of your weight loss goals. Try adding a low-fat Greek yoghurt instead and make this dessert lighter and healthier. To prepare it simply empty 1 small pot of low-fat Greek yoghurt into a cereal bowl, top up, hulled and halved strawberries.
Strawberries and mint
Combination of strawberries and mint creates a perfectly refreshing taste. Simply cut up some strawberries, add finely chopped fresh mint leaves and a squeeze of lime. I particularly like this for breakfast with a dollop of yoghurt.