It’s challenging to surpass the flavor of a plump, crimson, perfectly ripened strawberry, and high-end grocer Erewhon asserts they’ve discovered the finest-tasting one globally. However, here’s the kicker: it comes with an equally premium price tag, ringing in at $19 per solitary berry. (Remember when $5 avocado toast caused such a stir?) Naturally, this has sparked considerable discussion online. While some social media personalities argue that the esteemed strawberry justifies its cost, others remain skeptical about all the buzz surrounding it.
To cater to all the strawberry enthusiasts out there, we organized a blind taste test aimed at determining if the Erewhon strawberry truly meets its reputation.
What makes the Erewhon strawberry so costly?
A perfect solitary berry comes encased in a plastic hemisphere that opens up similar to how one might find a jewelry box containing an engagement ring. Positioned upwards with its foliage and stalk attached to a circular piece of plastic serving also as a convenient grip for eating, this strawberry seems plucked at the pinnacle of freshness. However, despite appearing just-picked, it has journeyed more than 5,000 miles all the way from the Tochigi Prefecture in Japan. Similar to another premium offering in Japan, sumo citrus The berries are notably sweet. This characteristic is due to their relatively low acidity, which has been achieved through multiple years of selective crossbreeding aimed at achieving just the right taste.
What do people think about this $19 strawberry?
TikTok influencer @alyssaantocii describes it as the finest strawberry she has ever tasted, but her commentators were skeptical. "A berry this expensive isn’t justified," stated one commenter. Another remarked that the promotional strategy will alter the overall impression: "I'd likely believe it was the greatest strawberry I've ever eaten if I spent $20 on just one." Some also brought up concerns about the ecological footprint caused by both the fruit's lengthy travel distance and unnecessary use of plastics for packing.
What is the proper way to consume Tochiaika strawberries?
According to providers of specialized fruits Tochiaika strawberries are ideally enjoyed when freshly picked, right out of your hand. Should you store them in the refrigerator, let them sit at room temperature for about 15 to 30 minutes as chilled berries have diminished flavors. Just prior to consumption, briefly wash the strawberry and then proceed to take gentle bites, savoring each mouthful to fully appreciate their taste.
Is the Erewhon strawberry truly so excellent?
Intrigued, we opted to conduct a blind tasting session to ascertain whether the Erewhon strawberry truly stands out for quality or superiority over regular strawberries.
Here’s how our tasting evaluation was conducted.
Linda Cheung , a Taste of Home video producer, sent her boyfriend to buy premium strawberries from Erewhon and a pint of Driscoll’s strawberries from Whole Foods.
What our tester thought
During the blind tasting, Linda accurately identified the Erewhon strawberry. She described it as having a mild, sweet taste without any sour notes and noted that its consistency felt softer. In contrast, she mentioned that the sample from Whole Foods tasted tangy with stronger flavors and had a crunchier feel; additionally, she pointed out that this particular strawberry seemed juicer.
She observed some distinctions in the appearance of the berries as well. The Erewhon strawberry featured tinier, more vibrant seeds, whereas the Whole Foods strawberry boasted bigger, deeper yellowish-brown seeds along with wider foliage. Nonetheless, both strawberries shared similar sizes and hues of red.
The Erewhon strawberry has a price tag of $19.99, whereas a 16-ounce container of Driscoll’s non-organic strawberries goes for $4.29 at Whole Foods. Linda mentioned that she probably won’t return for more of these premium berries, even though she appreciated having tried them once and was able to charge the expense!
