Professor says why strawberries and cream is taste of Brits' summer

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy CAMERON CHARTERS Published: 16:31 BST, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 16:33 BST, 3 June 2026

The British love of strawberries and cream you would be forgiven for thinking comes from the flavour, but actually it is the smell of the dish which makes it a staple of summer. Experts at the University of Oxford say the aromas from the dessert bring nostalgic thoughts to the forefront of the mind.Along with their sweet taste, strawberries provoke happy recollections from childhood such as picnics, summer days and sporting events including Wimbledon. It is hardly surprising therefore that in a recent poll strawberries and cream were crowned the 'taste of British summer'.Professor Charles Spence, taste expert and Professor of Experimental Psychology explained: '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.'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.'It is also thought to be the case that warmer weather may heighten our perception of sweet and fresh flavours. Experts have shown it is the smell of strawberries and cream which makes the dish so popularAlthough medieval Britons enjoyed eating wild berries, it was only in the 1800s when American and French varieties were crossbred that the strawberry became popular here.Since its introduction to the British diet, strawberries and cream has risen to the top of the go-to dishes in summer. To mark the launch of their new Dairy Milk Strawberries & Creme Frappe bar, Cadbury asked 2,000 Britons to list their favourite seasonal treat. Nearly 70 per cent agreed that strawberries and cream is the ideal food to eat during summer, closely followed by orange ice lollies, BBQ sausages and lemonade.Just over half of Britons make sure they enjoy the classic pairing every single summer, while just under half of us say it reminds us of childhood strawberry picking.A similar number say strawberries and cream is part of the scenery at Wimbledon.