With the British strawberry season now in full swing, premium berry brand AVA Berries has teamed up with renowned etiquette expert, William Hanson, to show the public the socially acceptable way to enjoy Britain’s berry of choice this summer.
So quintessentially British is the treat that a whopping 256 million punnets of strawberries were sold in the UK last summer (May to October), with June and July proving to be the most popular months with the British public munching through a whopping 20 punnets every second.
AVA Berries offer the best flavour, sweetness and quality and are grown by an exclusive group of growers in the UK to produce exceptional strawberries every time.
And now it turns out there is a ‘proper’ way to serve and enjoy strawberries. William Hanson claims that a ‘strawberry fork’, or a regular fork if you do not have one, should be used in formal or semi-formal occasions, and that all discarded stems should be left on the discard section of the plate – that is the top left-hand side.
He adds that during informal situations it is perfectly acceptable to pick up a strawberry using your hands and to eat them whole.
He also said that good hosts will always serve the best strawberries on offer, so no one needs worry about hulling anymore, a technique previously used to remove harder, woodier cores when strawberries are not quite at their best.
William Hanson, The UK’s leading etiquette coach & expert, said: “Frankly, I was shocked there wasn’t already a dedicated guide on the etiquette of eating one of the most British of fruits, the succulent strawberry. And for however juicy and delicious these fruits may be, it’s important to eat them elegantly, which is why my new guide is timely. Even if quality fruit, like AVA Berries, are only available for some of the year – displaying good manners is always in season.”
Dating back to ancient Rome, strawberries have long been the berry of choice for nobility. In the 14th and 15th centuries British royalty enjoyed eating wild strawberries, which were much smaller than the berries we are used to today. However, as they grew in popularity, the 16th century saw the beginnings of cross breeding and selectively enhancing attributes in strawberries to make them plumper and juicier.
New strawberry varieties only receive the AVA™ stamp of approval if they meet the highest standards in flavour, appearance, taste, and juiciness. They are currently sold as premium lines in some of the UK’s top supermarkets including Aldi’s Specially Selected range, Morrison’s The Best range, Co-op’s Irresistible range, Sainsburys’ Taste The Difference range, and in M&S stores.
Jill Witheyman, Head of Marketing at AVA Berries, commented: “Strawberries are synonymous with British summer time; whether that is enjoying them on a picnic or when watching Wimbledon – strawberries offer a taste of summer.
“And AVA strawberries are the best of the best, which is why we decided to team up with William to help the millions of people that will be looking forward to home-grown strawberries this summer to enjoy them properly. Everyone loves a big juicy strawberry, but eating them isn’t without its challenges, so we’re thrilled William has developed the UK’s very first strawberry etiquette guide to help the British public get the most out of their strawberries, and avoid any embarrassing moments, this summer.”
Angus Soft Fruits was established in 1994 with the ambition to sell fruit directly to retailers and continually improve the product available to consumers. To provide a point of difference in the products available, the Angus Breeding Programme was set up in the mid-1990s and this is how the first AVA™ strawberry was developed.
William Hanson’s AVA Strawberry Etiquette Guide
The Do’s and Don’ts of eating strawberries
The Victorians invented a tiny strawberry fork to eat smaller, wild strawberries. They’re hard to find today and there’s no real need but a regular fork should still be used in formal or semi-formal settings.
A spoon is only needed to partner the fork if cream, for example, is served with the strawberries.
Formally, if strawberries are served with their stems attached, they are eaten with a knife and fork – and yes, you can cut the stalk off.
Informally, large, juicy strawberries can be eaten whole and using the hands. Grasp them by the stem, dip them in chocolate or cream (if you wish), and bite.
All discarded stems are left on the discard section of the plate – that is the top left-hand side.
There is no need to hull strawberries anymore. Hulling is a technique to remove harder, woodier cores when the strawberries are not quite at their best. Good hosts will always serve the best strawberries on offer, so no one needs worry about hulling.
Cream or chocolate are optional accompaniments to the juicy main event. Less is more, and when enjoying premium AVA strawberries there is no need to add sugar – let the strawberries be the dominant flavour.
All accompaniments should be served separately and not pre-poured over the strawberries. Allow each guest to add as much or as little as they like.
If you wish to dine like royalty, try eating strawberries (and indeed any fruit or vegetable) when in season. Her Majesty and her family are keen champions of seasonal eating and if it is good enough for them, it is good enough for us.
The Don’ts of eating strawberries
It is never acceptable to feed a strawberry to another adult when dining in a formal setting; it can make other diners feel extremely uncomfortable.
And finally, never try to remove a strawberry seed from your teeth with your finger. You should always use a toothpick, and excuse yourself from the table first.
