Fiend at Court Unplugged
Strawberries and Cream at Wimbledon is arguably the most iconic food associated with any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Noshing on strawberries and cream is the perfect way to get into the spirit when watching the final rounds of the tournament this week. Despite the claims of many recipes on the internet, at Wimbledon fresh strawberries are served with unsweetened (and not whipped) cream. It couldn’t be easier to prepare.
Strawberries and Cream was already established as a traditional tennis dish when the first ever Wimbledon tournament was conducted in 1877. The tradition is believed to have originated by Thomas Wolsey who was a close associate of the King Henry VIII. In 1514 Thomas built a palace with a tennis court. The staff served Strawberries and Cream to spectators of the tennis matches held there.
Even the Duchess of Cambridge got into the act. She assisted the cooks at Wimbledon prepare and serve Strawberries and Cream while attending the tournament this year.
Embed from Getty Images- Why are strawberries and cream a Wimbledon tradition?, Nisha Mal, Wales Online, 27 June 2017.
- Duchess of Cambridge serves up classic strawberries and cream with Wimbledon cooks, Rebecca Taylor, Yahoo! Life, 2 July 2021.
