Sweet or tangy, fresh, frozen or canned, raw or cooked, the fleshy, juicy strawberry is the king of berries. Consumed plain or in combination with ice creams, atop cakes, and even as jams, crushes, and syrups, the red berry holds foodies in thrall and creates new converts every day. As fields of strawberry crop up across the country, so do farm stays, where you can experience berry-picking, packing, and eating for the duration of your stay. Before you choose your perfect strawberry, please read our guide on its history, nutritional aspect, and available varieties.
A Coloured Past
The wild strawberry may have been around forever, but the cultivated sweet-tasting, large-fruited variety originated, due to crossbreeding of the north and south American cultivars, in 18th -century Europe. It arrived in India in the next century, a few years before 1857, under the aegis of Governor-General Lord Auckland.
Cool And Collected
Fragaria × ananassa or strawberry is delicate, requires handpicking, and is packed straight off the plant. It is grown in regions suitable for each type of cultivar, though the temperate climate suits commercial cultivars the best, as it requires 12 hours of daylight. The delicate berry is grown near the centres of consumption to prevent wastage due to rot.
Easily Spread
Today, apart from the well-known centres in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, strawberry fields have cropped up in Rajasthan, Goa, Bundelkhand in Madhya Pradesh, and the Konkan coast. Sub-tropical areas in Jammu also have the potential to grow strawberries under irrigated conditions.
Top Types
Strawberries are rich in vitamin C, iron, pectin, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. There is a basket load of the varieties of strawberries grown in India, and a few stand out. The Chandler is preferred by commercial- and home-growers alike due to their unique flavour. It is conical to wedge in shape and is harvested from February to April. On the other hand, Tigora is a virus-resistant, large-sized, firm-skinned berry with a tangy taste due to the presence of 0.98 per cent acid and 6.2 per cent sugar. It is the best for desserts, jams, and jellies. Then there is Sweet Charlie, another good choice for home gardens, thanks to its good quality fruits and compact plant size. These are good for fresh consumption&mdashthe plant fruits during June. The Pusa Early Dwarf dominates the northern plains of our country. It has a large-sized, wedge-shaped fruit and begins to flower in early February. There is also the Florida 90, one of the oldest and typical strawberry varieties, native to the US and now successful in India. Finally, there is Orfa, with the highest vitamin C content among all the cultivars. It is also one of the sweetest, with the highest sugar content of 7.37 per cent.