What Are The Sweetest Varieties of Strawberries?

There is nothing that symbolizes the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature better than a basket full of strawberries: this fruit with many beneficial properties belongs to the Rosaceae family and is very ancient, traces of which can be found in the Neolithic. Cultivable in flowerpots, in fields but also easy to find spontaneous and wild in the woods, strawberries are so loved – to be eaten alone or in sweet and savory recipes – for their unique, sweet and sugary taste. Although all the most delicious strawberry varieties have these characteristics, in some types the sweetness is even more pronounced: here are the sweetest types of strawberries ever.

1. Mara Des Bois

At the top of the list of the sweetest strawberries there can only be her, the Mara des bois: its poetic name already suggests how sweet and intense its flavor is, so much so that it recalls that of wild strawberries but with much larger and much juicier fruits. It can be found from May to October and, precisely because of its extreme sweetness, it is very suitable for the preparation of desserts and strawberry jam.

2. Charlotte

Of French origin, the charlotte variety is easily recognizable from the others at first glance because it has a particular shape that resembles a heart. When tasted, it is unmistakable: the fruits, large, bright red and very fleshy, have an extremely sweet flavor, with just a slightly acidic aftertaste that is perfectly balanced. In this case too, the charlotte recalls the flavor of wild strawberries (it is no coincidence that it is a variety that derives from the Mara des bois) and is widely used in pastry making, in particular for the eponymous strawberry charlotte.

3. Belrubi

Among the most popular Italian varieties in Europe, Berlubi strawberries are a variety with a particular elongated shape, characterized by a bright red color and a darker red pulp. What makes these strawberries so popular is their flavor, much sweeter than other types because the fruit contains a much higher amount of sugar; precisely for this characteristic, it is ideal for preparing any type of strawberry-based dessert.

4. Nemi Strawberry

The Nemi strawberry is the little great jewel of the homonymous Lazio village, also known as the “strawberry village” precisely because of this particular wild variety of the fruit: the local strawberry has a legendary history, which says it was born from the tears that Venus shed for Adonis. In reality it is a variety of Fragaria vesca or European wild strawberry and has an irresistible sweetness: it is small, very fragrant and very sugary, in fact it goes wonderfully with pastry products.

5. Melissa

Melissa is an early variety – it begins producing in winter and then gives its best between March and May – that is gaining more and more prestige in Italian cultivations, especially in the areas between Campania and Puglia. The reasons for its success are to be found first of all in its excellent taste, characterized by a marked sweetness and a complex fragrance of flavors, but also in the full-bodied consistency of the pulp and the resistance of the fruit to deterioration, which allows it to be preserved in the refrigerator for longer than other varieties.

6. Dulcinea

Among the 4 seasons strawberries on the market, Dulcinea is one of the highest quality, especially from an organoleptic point of view: the fruits of this plant are firm, large in size, bright red in color and, above all, have a flavor that is not only very sweet, but also very aromatic.

7. Candonga

The Candonga strawberry is one of the most widespread and loved types, a true excellence of Made in Italy obtained after 7 years of crossbreeding between different varieties. It is typical of the Metapontino area, it is harvested by a limited number of growers registered with the Official Candonga Club and its fleshy pulp is known, bright red in color and with a particularly sweet, full and enveloping flavor. It is also a sustainable cultivation for the environment, because it is a very resistant plant that requires a small number of treatments.

8. Ostara

The most delicate strawberry is the Ostara, a variety that comes from the Netherlands and has established itself on the market precisely because of its excellent taste: the fruits are very sweet, but with a slight acidic note, a combination that makes the flavor very particular; furthermore, the fruits, even if they are of medium size, are particularly juicy and have dense pulp.

9. Pyrcinque

Pircinque, on the other hand, is a delicacy that is all Italian and also very precious: the plant bears fruit only once a year, but the production is very generous. Why is it finding more and more space on the market? Because of its unique flavor: the pulp, of a bright red color, has an intense aroma, a very sweet flavor and a very low acidity that allows you to fully enjoy all the sugary taste.