Strawberries and cream is the official style of the summer time and we will not get sufficient
The combination beats all seasonal favourites, including orange ice lollies, BBQ sausages and fish and chips, according to the study by confectionary brand Cadbury
Strawberries and cream is a classic summer pudding(Image: Getty Images)
Strawberries and cream has officially been crowned the undisputed taste of British summer, a poll found. The iconic combo trumps all seasonal favourites, with almost seven in 10 naming it the flavour that screams British summer louder than any other.
And it beat summery staples including orange ice lollies (64%), sizzling BBQ sausages (49%), refreshing lemonade (44%) and even seaside fish and chips (29%).
Other flavours which instantly make us think of UK summers include candy floss, buttery corn on the cob, trifle and Ploughman’s lunches. But an overwhelming 67% said strawberries and cream is the flavour they most closely associate with British summer time.
More than half of the nation admit they tuck into the classic pairing every single summer. For many, the flavour is deeply nostalgic, with nearly half (46%) saying it reminds them of childhood strawberry picking, while four in 10 associate it with Wimbledon.
Professor Charles Spence, Oxford University don and taste expert, said: “The English craze for strawberries is thought to have begun early in the 19th century. While wild berries were eaten in medieval times, the market really exploded when large, sweet American and French hybrid varieties were successfully cross bred, transforming the fruit into something of a national sensation here in Britain.
“And the research supports what we know to be true – that there is little that is more reminiscent of the English summer than the smell and sweet taste of a perfectly ripe strawberry. The distinctive smell of strawberries in fact, results from the combination of more than 350 different volatile aromas. However, one of the key aromas is furaneol: This provides the signature sweet, caramel, and jammy notes in strawberries.
“It is this distinctive smell and taste of strawberries that is so comforting. And while perhaps not top of many people’s lists of comfort foods, it is nevertheless a very nostalgic scent, redolent of summer picnics, garden parties, tennis and other outdoor sunny British traditions.”
“Brain scientists believe that smells and tastes can trigger such vivid and emotionally positive memories, which is why the taste of ripe strawberries and cream evokes such a strong sense of summer in us.”
Experts claim warmer weather can actually heighten our perception of sweet and fresh flavours, helping explain why strawberries and cream hits differently in the sunshine. The study was commissioned by confectionary brand Cadbury to celebrate the new limited-edition Dairy Milk Strawberries & Creme Frappe bar.
