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White strawberries widely range in size from small to large, depending on the variety, and have an oval shape comprised of curved, sometimes broad shoulders, slightly tapering to a rounded tip. The skin is smooth, glossy, taut, and found in shades of white to ivory, dotted with bright red seeds and the occasional pink blush. Underneath the surface, the white flesh is soft, aromatic, dense, and aqueous with a crisp but tender consistency. White strawberries are aromatic and contain a complex taste that transitions from tropical and tangy, pineapple-like flavors to a mild, candy-like sweetness with a lingering brightness on the palate.
White strawberries are available in the winter through early spring.
White strawberries, botanically a part of the Fragaria genus, are rare fruits belonging to the Rosaceae family. There are many different types of White strawberries found worldwide with varying appearances, flavors, and origins. A few White strawberry species, including Alpine, Beach, and Pineberries, occurred as natural mutations of red strawberries in the wild, but recently, newer commercial cultivars have been developed in Japan for broader consumer appeal. White strawberries in Japan are not genetically modified and have been naturally bred over many years to create pale fruits with a sweet, subtly tangy flavor. Despite their unripe appearance, White strawberries are also known to be sweeter than red varieties. The first White strawberry in Japan, Hatsukoi no Kaori, meaning “scent of first love,” was released in the early 21st century and quickly became a favorite variety grown for the Japanese luxury fruit market. Today White strawberries have remained one of the top fruits sold as specialty gifts, and there are over 50 cultivars found throughout Japan, including Pearl White, White Rabbit, and White Jewel. White strawberries are premium fresh-eating fruits highly valued for their unusual coloring, delicate flavor, and soft texture.
White strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system, increases collagen production, and reduces inflammation. The fruits also contain some iron to build the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the blood, calcium to maintain healthy bones and teeth, zinc to protect against viruses, and lower amounts of vitamins A, E, and K and magnesium.
White strawberries have a soft, aqueous consistency and sweet, tangy flavor well suited for fresh consumption to savor the fruit’s unusual qualities. The white strawberries are primarily given as gifts during special occasions, often enclosed in ornate packaging, and are mainly eaten straight, out-of-hand in respect to the fruit’s rarity. White strawberries can also be served as a stand-alone snack, appetizer, or dessert for dinner parties, or they are paired with red strawberries for a whimsical contrast. In Japan, White strawberries are sometimes utilized as edible garnishes and toppings over desserts. The strawberries can be placed onto cakes, tarts, custards, and parfaits, or they are sliced in half and served over pancakes, ice cream, and cheesecakes. Beyond culinary applications, White strawberries can also be used as an edible garnish on a cocktail glass rim for an elevated beverage. White strawberries pair well with vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, soft cheeses such as goat, burrata, and ricotta, and fruits such as apples, peaches, grapes, and apricots. Fresh, unwashed White strawberries will keep 2 to 3 days when stored in the refrigerator.
In Japan, Shiroi Houseki, also known as the White Jewel strawberry, is often deemed the most expensive White strawberry commercially available. Breeder and farmer Yasuhito Teshima spent many years developing and perfecting the variety through natural crossbreeding techniques, and White Jewel strawberries were first released to consumers in 2012. Teshima claims White Jewel strawberries are also the largest and whitest of the White strawberry varieties found in Japan. During cultivation, the fruits are limited in their exposure to sunlight, preventing the flesh from developing anthocyanin, the pigment responsible for the strawberry’s bright red hue. With this lack of sunlight exposure and the use of expert breeding techniques, White Jewel strawberries have a white, soft, juicy, and tender flesh with a distinct, candy-like tropical flavor. Despite their fame as a luxury fruit, White Jewel strawberries are also considered rare as they are grown in limited quantities by Teshima in the Saga Prefecture. Each year, only around ten percent of the White Jewel strawberries develop a pure white hue, even after Teshima’s years of extensive trials and testing, contributing to the cultivar’s exotic luxury. White Jewel strawberries are highly desired for their rarity, and once selected and packaged for markets, White strawberries are often sold at very high prices, depending on the shape, size, number of berries, and appearance. Individual White Jewel fruits generally sell for around ten dollars each, and packs of the white berries sell for more than forty dollars.
White strawberry is a general category encompassing hybrid varieties developed either naturally in the wild or through years of traditional and natural crossbreeding techniques. In Japan, it took researchers over 20 years to establish a maintained level of quality for commercial White strawberry production. Hatsukoi no Kaori was one of the first White strawberries produced in Japan, developed by Miyokshi Agritech, and was released in 2009 through high-end department stores. Over time, many new breeders began to create varieties of White strawberries across Japan, including the famous White Jewel in 2012. Today White strawberries are grown in Saga, Nara, Yamanashi, Chiba, and Tochigi prefectures in Japan and are produced through a limited number of growers to maintain the fruit’s rare reputation. The fruits are primarily sold in Japan through supermarkets, department stores, luxury fruit markets, and online retailers, and some varieties are also exported to other countries.
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
People have shared White Strawberries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
| Food Buzz: History of Strawberries | Listen |
Description/Taste
White strawberries widely range in size from small to large, depending on the variety, and have an oval shape comprised of curved, sometimes broad shoulders, slightly tapering to a rounded tip. The skin is smooth, glossy, taut, and found in shades of white to ivory, dotted with bright red seeds and the occasional pink blush. Underneath the surface, the white flesh is soft, aromatic, dense, and aqueous with a crisp but tender consistency. White strawberries are aromatic and contain a complex taste that transitions from tropical and tangy, pineapple-like flavors to a mild, candy-like sweetness with a lingering brightness on the palate.
Seasons/Availability
White strawberries are available in the winter through early spring.
Current Facts
White strawberries, botanically a part of the Fragaria genus, are rare fruits belonging to the Rosaceae family. There are many different types of White strawberries found worldwide with varying appearances, flavors, and origins. A few White strawberry species, including Alpine, Beach, and Pineberries, occurred as natural mutations of red strawberries in the wild, but recently, newer commercial cultivars have been developed in Japan for broader consumer appeal. White strawberries in Japan are not genetically modified and have been naturally bred over many years to create pale fruits with a sweet, subtly tangy flavor. Despite their unripe appearance, White strawberries are also known to be sweeter than red varieties. The first White strawberry in Japan, Hatsukoi no Kaori, meaning “scent of first love,” was released in the early 21st century and quickly became a favorite variety grown for the Japanese luxury fruit market. Today White strawberries have remained one of the top fruits sold as specialty gifts, and there are over 50 cultivars found throughout Japan, including Pearl White, White Rabbit, and White Jewel. White strawberries are premium fresh-eating fruits highly valued for their unusual coloring, delicate flavor, and soft texture.
Nutritional Value
White strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system, increases collagen production, and reduces inflammation. The fruits also contain some iron to build the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the blood, calcium to maintain healthy bones and teeth, zinc to protect against viruses, and lower amounts of vitamins A, E, and K and magnesium.
Applications
White strawberries have a soft, aqueous consistency and sweet, tangy flavor well suited for fresh consumption to savor the fruit’s unusual qualities. The white strawberries are primarily given as gifts during special occasions, often enclosed in ornate packaging, and are mainly eaten straight, out-of-hand in respect to the fruit’s rarity. White strawberries can also be served as a stand-alone snack, appetizer, or dessert for dinner parties, or they are paired with red strawberries for a whimsical contrast. In Japan, White strawberries are sometimes utilized as edible garnishes and toppings over desserts. The strawberries can be placed onto cakes, tarts, custards, and parfaits, or they are sliced in half and served over pancakes, ice cream, and cheesecakes. Beyond culinary applications, White strawberries can also be used as an edible garnish on a cocktail glass rim for an elevated beverage. White strawberries pair well with vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, soft cheeses such as goat, burrata, and ricotta, and fruits such as apples, peaches, grapes, and apricots. Fresh, unwashed White strawberries will keep 2 to 3 days when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Japan, Shiroi Houseki, also known as the White Jewel strawberry, is often deemed the most expensive White strawberry commercially available. Breeder and farmer Yasuhito Teshima spent many years developing and perfecting the variety through natural crossbreeding techniques, and White Jewel strawberries were first released to consumers in 2012. Teshima claims White Jewel strawberries are also the largest and whitest of the White strawberry varieties found in Japan. During cultivation, the fruits are limited in their exposure to sunlight, preventing the flesh from developing anthocyanin, the pigment responsible for the strawberry’s bright red hue. With this lack of sunlight exposure and the use of expert breeding techniques, White Jewel strawberries have a white, soft, juicy, and tender flesh with a distinct, candy-like tropical flavor. Despite their fame as a luxury fruit, White Jewel strawberries are also considered rare as they are grown in limited quantities by Teshima in the Saga Prefecture. Each year, only around ten percent of the White Jewel strawberries develop a pure white hue, even after Teshima’s years of extensive trials and testing, contributing to the cultivar’s exotic luxury. White Jewel strawberries are highly desired for their rarity, and once selected and packaged for markets, White strawberries are often sold at very high prices, depending on the shape, size, number of berries, and appearance. Individual White Jewel fruits generally sell for around ten dollars each, and packs of the white berries sell for more than forty dollars.
Geography/History
White strawberry is a general category encompassing hybrid varieties developed either naturally in the wild or through years of traditional and natural crossbreeding techniques. In Japan, it took researchers over 20 years to establish a maintained level of quality for commercial White strawberry production. Hatsukoi no Kaori was one of the first White strawberries produced in Japan, developed by Miyokshi Agritech, and was released in 2009 through high-end department stores. Over time, many new breeders began to create varieties of White strawberries across Japan, including the famous White Jewel in 2012. Today White strawberries are grown in Saga, Nara, Yamanashi, Chiba, and Tochigi prefectures in Japan and are produced through a limited number of growers to maintain the fruit’s rare reputation. The fruits are primarily sold in Japan through supermarkets, department stores, luxury fruit markets, and online retailers, and some varieties are also exported to other countries.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
| Shoreside Support Boat | San Diego CA | 704-277-7929 |
Recently Shared
People have shared White Strawberries using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 30 days ago, 3/19/21 Sharer's comments : Peach Strawberries! 
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 30 days ago, 3/19/21 Sharer's comments : These are Pink Strawberries 🍓 
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 30 days ago, 3/19/21 Sharer's comments : White strawberries! 
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market - California St.
Near San Francisco, California, United States1765 California Street San Francisco CA 94109 415-674-0500 About 646 days ago, 7/12/19 Sharer's comments : Very cool. |
