Wild Strawberries
Estimated Inventory, 12 ct : 0
Description/Taste
Wild Strawberries are a condensed version of the domesticated variety in both shape and flavor. Similar in size to raspberries, they have a vibrant red hue that sometimes turns a deeper shade of red than conventional strawberries. At peak ripeness, Wild Strawberries are notably tender and easily disintegrate due to their delicate structure and high moisture content. Wild Strawberries have a translucent white inner flesh, speckled with tiny, neon green seeds embedded into the fruit's surface. Its stem is bright green with serrated edges and a subtly hairy texture. Wild Strawberries have a strong, sweet, and fruity smell complemented by undertones reminiscent of the crisp freshness of a forest or meadow. Even though they're about half the size of their domesticated relatives, Wild Strawberries boast richer sugar levels and have hints of rose and violet.
Seasons/Availability
Wild Strawberries ripen in the summer.
Current Facts
There are several types of Wild Strawberries, including Fragaria vesca, also known as Woodland Strawberry or fraises des bois, and Fragaria chiloensis, known as Beach Strawberry, Coast Strawberry, or Chilean Strawberry. Wild Strawberries belong to the Rose family, making them close relatives of blackberries and raspberries. The name "strawberry" originates from the Anglo-Saxon "streawberige," alluding to the way the plants spread their runners across the ground. Beyond their culinary appeal, Wild Strawberries have a variety of medicinal uses. Native Americans crafted bitters from Wild Strawberry roots as a tonic and blood purifier for the post-winter season. During the American Revolution, Minutemen combated scurvy by consuming tea crafted from the fresh green leaves of Wild Strawberries.
Nutritional Value
Wild Strawberries are packed with nutrients that can significantly benefit your health. The antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E, along with the B-complex vitamins found in these berries, can help protect your cells from damage, boost your immune system, and improve your skin health. The minerals they contain, such as potassium, manganese, fluorine, copper, iron, and iodine, contribute to bone health, proper thyroid function, and blood pressure regulation. Wild Strawberries have long been valued in traditional remedies, serving as natural laxatives and diuretics. They've been recognized for their potential to treat fever, rheumatism, and gout. Wild Strawberry has been used to alleviate sunburn, clean teeth, and soothe toothaches. The juice extracted from Wild Strawberries has been applied to inflamed sores.
Applications
Wild Strawberries can be eaten raw, mashed, or transformed into a compote for various sweet creations. They can be incorporated into a variety of dishes, both savory and sweet, such as salads, salsas, ice creams, cocktails, jams, juices, teas, baked goods, and vinaigrettes. Enhancing their flavor can be achieved by sprinkling them with sugar and baking until they are concentrated, which pairs well with yogurt or panna cotta. They can complement a range of flavors including cream, vanilla, coconut, caramel, mango, bacon, grilled chicken, buttermilk, blue cheese, and various herbs like basil, mint, and arugula, in addition to chiles, pine nuts, hazelnuts, olive oil, and citrus. Due to their perishability, it's important to use Wild Strawberries shortly after harvest, usually within a few days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Wild Strawberries were an important source of food for Indigenous peoples in North America. Tribes such as the Blackfoot, Cherokee, Ojibwa, and Iroquois used the leaves of Wild Strawberry plants as a disinfectant and to treat gastrointestinal, kidney, and liver issues. In Cornwall, young girls would use Wild Strawberry leaves as a complexion-enhancing blush. These berries contributed to the creation of lotions and creams aimed at lightening the skin and reducing freckles, featuring in historical face wash recipes. In France and Central Europe, Wild Strawberries are considered superior in flavor to commercial strawberries and are often used in patisseries.
Geography/History
Wild Strawberries are native to many places including mainland Europe, the UK, large parts of Russia from Central Europe to West Siberia, the Pacific coast of North and South America, and countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Lebanon-Syria, and Turkey. They thrive in sunny, moist climates, preferring partial shade and sandy soils, and are commonly found in grasslands, open woodlands, forest edges, and banks. The spread of Wild Strawberries across various territories is partially due to birds dispersing their seeds. The introduction of the Beach Strawberry from Chile to Europe in the early 18th century is credited to Amédée-François Frézier, a French engineer and explorer. The Wild Strawberry is considered near threatened in England largely attributed to a 97% reduction in wildflower meadows since the 1930s. Although the small size and labor-intensive nature of harvesting means Wild Strawberries are mostly found in the wild, they are occasionally gathered for personal use or sold on a small scale at local markets and specialty food stores, or featured in gourmet dishes in restaurants emphasizing local and wild flavors.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Wild Strawberries. One
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