The Wimbledon tennis tournament will start soon, and I thought now would be the perfect time for me to revisit treasured memories from the years I spent in the UK. I wrote a post about Wimbledon and Britain’s iconic seasonal dishes over 10 years ago – I believe it’s time for a refresher 🙂
After spring and the seas of daffodils gracing hills and valleys of the beautiful British countryside, summer usually brings with it a flurry of excitement, in anticipation of one of the world’s most important competitions: the Wimbledon tennis tournament. To Brits, Wimbledon is a long-standing tradition and a symbol of the great British summer and its finest produce, from tender asparagus to rosy rhubarb, from delicate peas to crunchy cucumbers, from versatile courgettes to juicy strawberries. The latter are used to make a classic treat: strawberries and cream.
“Strawberries and cream is synonymous with Wimbledon, and the tradition of eating them during this sporting event is almost as old as the tournament itself. In the 19th century when the tradition first started, the seasonal availability of strawberries perfectly aligned with the dates of Wimbledon. Although it’s now possible to eat most fruit and veg out of season, British strawberries are at their peak in June and July which is exactly when the championships take place.
Before fridges were widely available, eating fresh fruit was seen as a sign of luxury and prosperity, and so the tradition took hold. Approximately 28,000 kilograms of strawberries are enjoyed each year, topped with 7,000 litres of cream during the two week duration of the championships. The price has been set at £2.50 for a portion which hasn’t changed since 2010 and you can even get a plant-based version with vegan cream too” (Emily Marten, “10 Twists on Strawberries and Cream,” bbcgoodfood.com)
I turned my memories of strawberries & cream from years past into the smoothie bowl pictured here. I blended frozen strawberries with banana and heavy cream, and I topped this invigorating naturally sweet combo with berries and cantaloupe, Alter Eco cinnamon & raisin granola (my go-to option when I don’t have time to make granola), cocoa nibs, coconut flakes, and lilac honey. In lieu of mint, I used crunchy fresh sunflower microgreens, my favorite 🙂
The silky texture of the smoothie with the crunchy granola and the gently perfumed lilac honey made up an irresistible combination, which I devoured quickly, my mind populated by beloved memories of practices, traditions, and spectacular sports. Summer time and summer fruits are the absolute best, or so I think 🙂
Will you be watching Wimbledon this year, and do you have a favorite seasonal (Wimbledon-inspired?) treat? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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