The strawberries and cream of Wimbledon are arguably the most iconic concession associated with any of the Grand Slam tournaments. Dining on that dish is the perfect way to cap off the final weekend of the Championships this year.
Despite the claims of many recipes on the internet, fresh strawberries are simply served with unsweetened (and not whipped) cream at Wimbledon. It couldn’t be easier to prepare. Literally, all you have to do is hull some strawberries and pour heavy cream over them.
Strawberries and cream as standard tennis fare were well established long before the first-ever Wimbledon tournament was conducted in 1877. The tradition is believed to have originated in 1514 by Thomas Wolsey, who was a close associate of King Henry VIII. The staff at Wolsey’s palace served strawberries and cream to spectators of the tennis matches that were held on the grounds.
In 2014, Wimbledon’s strawberry lovers downed an estimated 1.1 million strawberries, or nearly 62,000 pounds, over the course of the 13-day tournament. It takes 1,800 gallons of cream to round out the dish. The standard serving at Wimbledon bowl contains 10 berries.
To get in the spirit of Wimbledon, head out to the grocery store to ensure you have fresh strawberries and cream on hand for the remainder of the weekend. This perfect breakfast will enhance your enjoyment of the Finals.
- Why are strawberries and cream a Wimbledon tradition?, Nisha Mal, Wales Online, 27 June 2017.
- Bumper Crop of Strawberries Hits Wimbledon, Tom Perrotta, The Wall Street Journal, 27 June 2014.
Best thing is you can buy your strawberries outside the grounds and take them inside the All England Club in you picnic basket which can also contain your egg and cress sandwiches, bottle of wine, glasses and corkscrew. Security at the entrance happily let you in with your basket of goodies.
I read that in the Wimbledon Compendium just this week. It blows my mind. Pretty sure that no tournament in the US allows outside food to be brought in.
Your articles are always good. I would like to know how much money goes to the players at tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open. You may have already touched on this subject and I missed it. Thanks!