With the Scottish 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 strawberries this summer.
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 Scots munching through a whopping 20 punnets every second.
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, an 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 summer time; whether that is enjoying them on a picnic or when watching Wimbledon – strawberries offer a taste of summer."
For more information:
AVA Berries
www.avaberries.com