Why tasty strawberries are just a sweet memory (2024)

Have you ever bitten into a plump, red strawberry, only to find it bland and watery? Here’s why some of them fail the taste test.

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Why tasty strawberries are just a sweet memory (1)

Strawberries don’t taste as good as when we were kids. They’ve been losing their flavour while at the same time becoming bigger and more plentiful year-round.

This is because strawberry breeders have been developing fruit that has other marketable properties such as uniform appearance, large size, freedom from disease and long shelf-life.

Focus on these genetic factors means other genes have been lost, including some responsible for flavour.

But there’s more to it than that

The balance of sweetness and acidity is very important to the taste of a strawberry. As strawberries ripen, their sugar content rises from about 5% in unripe green fruit to 6–9% on ripening.

At the same time, the acidity decreases, meaning ripe strawberries taste much sweeter. But not always, sadly.

Where’s the flavour and firmness gone? Certain pesticides might be responsible. A team reporting in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has found that two common strawberry fungicides can affect cellular mechanisms, creating berries with subdued flavour and sweetness, as well as a lower nutritional value.

Our appreciation of flavour comes from both taste and smell—sweetness often arises from the amount of dissolved glucose or fructose in the fruit, and a unique aroma comes from volatile compounds known as esters and terpenes.

Many fruits are full of nutrients, including vitamin C, folic acid and antioxidants. But because fungicides are designed to disrupt the cellular processes of detrimental fungi, they could accidentally interfere with these processes in crops, inhibiting production of important flavour and nutritional compounds.

Why tasty strawberries are just a sweet memory (2)

Research confirms it

Scientists have investigated how two common pesticides used on strawberries—boscalid (BOS) and difenoconazole (DIF)—affect specific molecular pathways in berries.

The researchers grew three groups of strawberries in identical conditions, applying BOS or DIF to two of the groups when the berries were still green. Even after treatment, the fully grown berries were identical in size and colour to those grown without pesticide.

Yet, under the surface, the team found several chemical changes caused by the fungicides:

  • Soluble sugars and nutrients, such as sucrose and vitamin C, were reduced.

  • Sugars were converted into acids, further reducing sweetness.

  • The amount of volatile compounds changed, subduing the berry's taste and aroma.

Looking more closely, the team found that BOS had a direct effect on the regulation of genes involved in cellular pathways related to producing sugars, volatile compounds, nutrients and amino acids.

In a blind taste test, people consistently preferred the untreated strawberries.

For related reading: Science Daily, Flavor Investigator

Why tasty strawberries are just a sweet memory (2024)

FAQs

Why tasty strawberries are just a sweet memory? ›

The balance of sweetness and acidity is very important to the taste of a strawberry. As strawberries ripen, their sugar content rises from about 5% in unripe green fruit to 6–9% on ripening. At the same time, the acidity decreases, meaning ripe strawberries taste much sweeter.

Why do people think strawberries are sweet? ›

Dr Mosley explains that strawberries contain a host of molecules that give the fruit their characteristic scent but also boost our taste sensation around sweetness. of the 350-plus molecules which are present in strawberry vapour are important to the fruit's sweet flavour.

What makes strawberries so special? ›

Strawberries are also packed with antioxidants, which protect cells from damage. The primary antioxidant in strawberries is anthocyanin, which gives the fruit its color. The amount of anthocyanin in strawberries increases as the fruit ripens. So, the redder the berry, the more antioxidants it contains.

Why do strawberries make me happy? ›

Strawberries are rich in anthocyanins, which make them potentially good for cognitive and emotional health. Anthocyanins are what give strawberries their red pigment. Anthocyanins are a potent antioxidant that has anti-neuroinflammatory properties, which benefit brain and emotional health.”

What is the secret to sweet strawberries? ›

Growing Sweet Strawberries

If your strawberries aren't sweet, look at your current soil conditions. Strawberries perform best in well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic soils. In fact, these plants tend to yield more and are sweeter when grown in compost-enriched, sandy soil.

Why are strawberries so tasty? ›

The balance of sweetness and acidity is very important to the taste of a strawberry. As strawberries ripen, their sugar content rises from about 5% in unripe green fruit to 6–9% on ripening. At the same time, the acidity decreases, meaning ripe strawberries taste much sweeter.

Why are fruits sweet and tasty? ›

The sweetness in fruits is due to the presence of sugar in it. Guavas, watermelons, apples, mangoes and pears are some of the fruits which are sweet in taste.

How many strawberries should you eat a day? ›

It is recommended that individuals eat a serving of 8 strawberries a day. Clinical research has determined that this recommendation can have some hefty benefits, including potentially improved heart and brain health, reduced risk of some cancers, and better management of type 2 diabetes.

What are 5 interesting facts about strawberries? ›

Here are ten fun facts about this delectable fruit:
  • The Early Fruit Tastes the Sweetest. ...
  • Strawberries are a Type of Rose. ...
  • Strawberries Can Be A Variety of Different Colors. ...
  • Strawberries Contain More Vitamin C than Oranges. ...
  • Americans Eat Eight Pounds of Strawberries Per Year. ...
  • The Fear of Strawberries is Called Fragariaphobia.
Apr 13, 2023

What two fruits make a strawberry? ›

A strawberry is actually a multiple fruit which consists of many tiny individual fruits embedded in a fleshy receptacle. The brownish or whitish specks, which are commonly considered seeds, are the true fruits, called achenes, and each of them surrounds a tiny seed.

Do strawberries help memory? ›

The strawberry group showed notable improvement in memory, particularly memory processing. They had a significant decrease in memory interference, a factor crucial for memory retention and retrieval. And they excelled at word recall based on previously learned words without confusion.

Why do I love strawberries so much? ›

In terms of taste and scent, they provide tartness, sweetness and a beautiful, warm fragrance. Not to mention they are a rich source of nutrition and antioxidants. There are so much you could do with strawberries. My favourite way to enjoy them is to slice a few of them and add to water.

What happens if you eat a lot of strawberries? ›

In general, consider a daily serving size to equal about 1 cup or eight medium strawberries. Your best bet is to eat strawberries (or any fruit) in moderation. If you consume too many fruit sugars and fibers, you may get digestive symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea, or gas.

What is the sweetest part of a strawberry? ›

As the ripening berry hangs by the cap on its stem, gravity pulls naturally occurring sugars down into the tip. This makes the strawberry tip the sweetest, choicest part.

Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog's teeth as he or she eats them. Like all fruits, strawberries contain natural sugar, so offer them in moderation.

How do you make strawberries happy? ›

Give plants 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly, and avoid wetting the leaves. Promote excellent fruit production by keeping plants fed with a continuous-release fertilizer. Harvest ripe strawberries in the cool of morning and refrigerate them right away.

How are strawberries so sweet but low in sugar? ›

The researchers studied 35 different varieties of strawberries. They found six natural volatile compounds, which are chemicals that evaporate easily so humans can smell them. These chemicals are perceived by the senses as sweet but they contain no sugar.

Why are grocery store strawberries tasteless? ›

Most strawberries you see in supermarkets are grown to be big and bright and firm enough not to bruise when packed together and shipped from place to place. Also, many varieties of strawberry need a drop in temperature at night to really develop their flavor.

Why do strawberries taste sweeter than blueberries? ›

Strawberries have much less sugar than blueberries but are consistently rated much sweeter. Bartoshuk and colleagues suggest that this is because strawberries have so many more volatiles – something like 30 – than blueberries, which have “maybe three”, Bartoshuk estimates.

What is the real taste of strawberries? ›

Strawberries taste sweet; however, a good portion of that “sweet” perception actually comes from strawberry aroma and flavor! The freshest and tastiest strawberries are a fragrant bouquet of esters, with flavor notes ranging from pineapple to tree fruit such as apple and pear.

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