Wild strawberry ◆

Fraise des bois

What it is

Every garden strawberry descends from a cross made at Brest around 1766 between a Chilean plant Amédée-François Frézier carried home in 1714 and a Virginian one; the wild strawberry took no part in it and remains a species of its own. That is why its perfume differs in kind rather than degree — and why nobody has yet bred a large berry that keeps it.

In the kitchen

Never wash them; the flesh is open and takes on water instantly. Hull them with a knife point an hour before serving and leave them at room temperature — cold shuts the aroma down completely.

Goes with

Cream Crème fraîche Lemon verbena Mint Black pepper Pistachio White sugar

In season alongside

Acacia honey Lavender honey Lychee Mangosteen Pear Bergeron apricot

Something wrong here, or missing? Tell us