Strawberries

The humble strawberry is actually the fruit of the Rosacae plant family. More than 20 species of strawberry plant exist, along with undoubtedly more hybrids used in commercial farming.

In the UK at least, strawberries have a very quiet existence for the most part, but are hunted in droves during the summer months and devoured in great quantities at numerous gatherings around the country – one of the more popular events being Wimbledon fortnight.

Consumption of the naked strawberry is a rather pleasent pastime in its own right, though inevitably there are protracted methods of ‘jazzing up’ your humble strawberry through culinary exploration. Some insist that strawberries should be accompanied by a good champagne, whilst others are devotees of black pepper and/or balsamic vinegar. Alternatively mint, and the juice and rind of a good lemon make for a most excellent combination, providing a little sugar is used to redress the acid-to-sweet balance.

If you visit the UK in Summer, you will almost certainly find transient vending of said fruit rural areas. For the best experience, however, it is suggested that the reader should join a sect of the PYO brigade.

So that’s strawberries.