Strawberries

[Hoddy]

Does anyone know anything about the particular uses of the various strawberry varieties ? At the moment we're eating Garigettes. I also see  Marron des Bois and Cyraphim and others selling well. Are some of these better for tarts, flans and jam than others ?

Any strawberry experts out there ? Apologies for the spelling; I've taken them from the vendor's boards.

Thanks.

Hoddy

[Cassis]

All cultivated varieties can be used for making jams (but not as easy to get a good set as other fruits), tarts and flans.  They only really differ in size, flavour and relative sweetness.  Otherwise identical (apart from wild strawberries, tiny tasteless things and highly over-rated).  Don't waste them on jam - a good bought one is probably better.  Smother them in cream instead!

[chessfou]

The Gariguettes are gorgeous at the moment but even better are the Mara des bois.

NB. Not "Marrons" (they're chestnuts).

Mara des bois is a fabulous variety, created just 15 years ago, a cross between 4 old varieties (Hummi-Gento, Ostara,

Red Gauntlet et Korona) - see http://www.rungisinternational.com/pages/fr/Dossiers/fl4.Asp

That website (Rungis) calls the Mara des bois "Queen of strawberries" and they should know.

Basically the variety succeeds in capturing the magnificent flavour of the Fraises des bois (the tiny little wild strawberries which have easily the best strawberry flavour in the world) while overcoming the two inconveniences of the wild strawberries (they're both on the small side and on the expensive side).

Our local market has a stall currently selling Mara des Bois for EUR 5 / 500g (compared with EUR 3 or 3.50 for Gariguettes).

IMHO Mara des bois are simply for eating (or gorging), not for wasting on tarts, flans and jam (although Tiptree's expensive Little Scarlet must use a very similar variety).

[Gardian]

They, rightly, rant about the Garriguettes around here.  They're locally referred to as Fraises de Nimes and are 'pointy' at the top end: had some tonight and are 2x the price of Spanish stuff, but 10x tastier.

Don't know the other varieties, but will ask around.

Digressing, first of the season's cherries on sale by the roadside and in the shops over the last week. Delicious: €2.50 / kilo.

[Cassis]

[quote user="chessfou"]

Basically the variety succeeds in capturing the magnificent flavour of the Fraises des bois (the tiny little wild strawberries which have easily the best strawberry flavour in the world) while overcoming the two inconveniences of the wild strawberries (they're both on the small side and on the expensive side).

[/quote]

Hi Chess Nut

If you're passing in a month's time en route to Aveyron, you're welcome to come and pick our wood full of wild strawberries - I can't stand them, they're tasteless!  Is there more than one variety of wild strawberry?

Phil