The history of strawberries and cream

Strawberries and cream. It’s such a simple combination, but certainly a winning one. If you’re as obsessed with strawberries and cream as we are at Shedquarters, you’re going to love this one.

Picture this - it’s a beautiful summer's day in London, the grass courts of Wimbledon are freshly cut, Murray Mount is packed full of eager spectators, and you’re sat centre court to witness some of the biggest stars in the game. What’s missing? Strawberries and cream. 

Despite its modern-day association with Wimbledon, strawberries and cream goes back much further than the tournament itself - to the 16th century, to be exact! 

Let us take you back to 1509…

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey is thought to be the first person to ‘invent’ the winning strawberries and cream combo. Wolsey was a powerful figure in the court of King Henry VIII, one of his right-hand men, and is even credited with the building of Hampton Court, a Tudor kitchen that fed over 600 lords and ladies twice a day. 

However, it’s also rumoured that it was an unnamed court chef that actually came up with the recipe now credited to Wolsey. I guess we’ll never know.

What we do know, though, is that Henry VIII himself first sampled the delightful dessert at a lavish Hampton Court banquet in 1509.

And, as you would expect, what’s fit for a king is fit for anyone. Strawberries and cream quickly became a popular dish during the reign of the Tudors.

Fast forward 30 or so years later and Andrew Boorde, author of The Fyrst Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge, documented strawberries and cream in his book. An excerpt from the book reads:

"Rawe crayme undecocted, eaten with strawberyes or hurtes (whortleberry, billberry) is a rurall mannes blanket. I have knowen such blankettes hath put men in jeoperdy of theyr lyves."

Strawberyes and crayme, anyone?

But why do they serve strawberries and cream at Wimbledon?

It’s estimated that around 10,000 litres of cream and 28,000 kg of strawberries are consumed throughout the tournament in June/July, with all strawberries locally sourced from Grade 1 farms in Kent. But why are strawberries and cream so popular at Wimbledon?

400 years on from Henry VIII, in the early 1900s, King George V has been widely credited with introducing the classic combination to Wimbledon.

Fun fact: did you know strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in spring?

Johnny Perkins, Head of PR at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, believes the popularity of the dish is down to the seasonality of strawberries during the tournament paired with their fashionable status from Victorian England.

Strawberries and cream with a modern-day twist

If all this talk of strawberries and cream has made you hungry, we’ve got an exclusive for you! At Popcorn Shed, we’re bringing strawberries and cream into the 21st century with our brand new Strawberries & Cream popcorn. And, if we do say so ourselves, it’s absolutely delicious.

Our Strawberries & Cream popcorn flavour combines creamy caramel with sweet dried strawberries for a fresh yet indulgent summer treat.

Whether you’re heading to Wimbledon this summer or watching the tournament from the comfort of your own home, why not give our strawberries and cream popcorn a whirl? You can order online, with free delivery on all orders over £30, or pay a visit to one of our stockists.

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