Strawberries and cream has been officially named the undisputed taste of British summer, according to a new poll. The classic combination beat other seasonal favourites, with 67% of respondents saying it is the flavour they most associate with the UK summer.
The survey found that the iconic duo outranked orange ice lollies (64%), sizzling BBQ sausages (49%), refreshing lemonade (44%), and seaside fish and chips (29%). Other flavours evoking British summers include candy floss, buttery corn on the cob, trifle, and Ploughman's lunches.
More than half of Britons admit to enjoying strawberries and cream every summer, with nearly half (46%) saying it reminds them of childhood strawberry picking, and four in 10 associating it with Wimbledon. Professor Charles Spence, an Oxford University taste expert, noted that the English craze for strawberries began in the early 19th century after American and French hybrid varieties were cross-bred, creating a national sensation.
Professor Spence explained that the distinctive smell of strawberries comes from over 350 volatile aromas, with furaneol providing the sweet, caramel, and jammy notes. He added that this nostalgic scent is strongly linked to summer picnics, garden parties, tennis, and other outdoor British traditions. The study was commissioned by Cadbury to celebrate the new limited-edition Dairy Milk Strawberries & Creme Frappe bar.
