There’s nothing nicer than a juicy strawberry, especially at the height of summer when they’re really perfect.
But could they be… more perfect? Seemingly so, as an ultra-luxurious variant of the fruit has been causing a stir on social media, with influencers going wild over a punnet from Harrods.
The catch? A box costs £180.
The Japanese Kyo no Shizuku Ichigo strawberries are meticulously chosen for their size, sweetness, and shape, ensuring each one is visually flawless and bursting with rich flavour. Originating from Kyoto in Japan, these exclusive strawberries are cultivated on Shibuya Farm, undergoing 40 tests annually and are harvested from midnight to sunrise just before they reach peak ripeness, to guarantee that they are flawless once delivered.
They are then imported directly to Harrods and showcased in their renowned food hall alongside exotic melons and £75 grapes.
And these faultless fruits are grown in limited quantities, making them a unique treat for those ready to splurge. Even the packaging exudes luxury. No plastic punnet here – these precious packages are tucked into in a custom box.
The Mirror’s Cally Brooks was so intrigued that she decided to stump up for the delicacy and headed over to the Harrod’s Food Hall. Amazingly, despite the social media frenzy, staff were astonished when she requested a box and confessed that she was likely one of the first to purchase them.
Given their £7.50-per-strawberry price tag, this is hardly surprising. Nonetheless, back at her office. there was a rush of people eager to taste them – but did they meet the expectations?
According to the journalist, the strawberries had a lovely sweetness, which reminded her of a traditional British variety at its peak. Their texture was incredibly soft and juicy, and the size of them was larger than most British varieties. However, Cally eventually conceeded that: “it was nothing [she] hadn’t tasted before when trying a real British strawberry from a local farm”.
For comparison, Cally also purchased a £2.25 box of strawberries from Aldi but said they didn’t match their more expensive counterpart for quality.
What justifies the hefty £180 price tag?
The strawberries undergo a “strategic harvest” only done after midnight and before sunrise so that only fully ripened strawberries are harvested. Post-harvest, they are processed in a refrigeration room before being packaged for transport to London, with the cost of shipping partially reflected in the price.
They are also touted to have numerous health benefits, including improving bone health and enhancing short-term memory – however ‘regular’ strawberries have the same advantages.
For some, these Harrods strawberries might be worth the splurge for a special occasion or if you’re wanting to try something unique. However, for most, spending £180 on 24 strawberries is a step too far when perfectly lovely versions are available for a tiny fraction of that cost.
