If you were to walk into a supermarket and go to the fruit section, there is a very good chance that that section will carry a certain ruby-red, heart-shaped fruit. But where did the strawberry come from? Why is it called a “strawberry”? And why are they so popular for Valentine’s Day? All of these questions and more will be answered in this juicy blog post – today’s blog will be about the history of strawberries.
Why are strawberries even called strawberries? According to the spruceEats, the word “strawberry” likely originates from the Old English term streawberige, because the plant sends out runners, which could be likened to pieces of straw. Virginia strawberries were brought from America to England, where they steadily grew in popularity, finally becoming well-loved in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
However, the strawberry that we know today is a cross between the Virginia strawberry and the Chilean strawberry, which was brought back to France during the 18th century. The cross-breeding of these two fruits created the larger strawberry that we know today. By the early 19th century, the Victorians, who were avid horticulturalists, and England gained a reputation for its larger and juicy strawberries, later dubbed les fraises Anglaises, which means “the English strawberries,” (a little boring, I know). The Victorians also created the Royal Sovereign in 1892, which was unrivaled in both flavour and appearance.
But why are strawberries so popular on Valentine’s Day?
The first person to make chocolate-covered strawberries was an American woman named Lorraine Lorusso in 1964, and the treat has since become an extremely popular gift on the day of love. But before that, strawberries were seen as a symbol of Venus, the Roman goddess of love (Romans created a lot of things). This is because of their beautiful ruby-red colour, and deliciously sweet taste. The seeds of a strawberry have also been thought to represent fertility, and strawberries were considered to be so divine that churches began to incorporate the fruit into their carvings. And finally, strawberries (and chocolate) are considered a popular aphrodisiac, making it an extremely popular choice for couples on Valentine’s Day.
So, the next time you bite into that heart-shaped fruit, chocolate covered or otherwise, think about the romantic and long history that the amazing strawberries possess…and maybe get some for that special person in your life.
Here’s a recipe for strawberry jam: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/strawberry-jam
