For tennis fans, nothing quite matches the quintessential pairing of strawberries and cream while watching Wimbledon. Imagine sweet, fresh berries bathed in thick, luscious cream, served alongside a refreshing Pimm’s Cup cocktail. It is the ultimate taste of a British summer, and you can easily recreate it right at home.

A side view of a glass bowl of whole strawberries with fresh cream with a spoon


Recreating this courtside classic is a breeze. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in England during peak British strawberry season, the tournament boasts a longstanding history of serving the highest quality berries. Sourced from the finest British growers, these hand-picked Wimbledon strawberries are a guaranteed symphony of sweetness and flavor.


Table of Contents

2 bowls of strawberries and cream with champagne

The Royal History Behind Wimbledon’s Strawberries and Cream

While tradition has it that King George V made them fashionable at the Wimbledon tournament in the early 1900s, strawberries and cream were actually served to the crowds at the very first match in 1877. It was a perfect storm of factors: strawberries were a seasonal luxury perfectly ripe during the tournament weeks, and eating them was the ultimate fashionable summer activity.

Today, it is a massive operation. During the two-week event, spectators consume over 38.4 tons of strawberries – that’s nearly 2 million individual berries! Vendors sell over 250,000 portions, ensuring everyone gets a taste of summer. Each traditional serving contains approximately 8 whole strawberries nestled in a clear plastic bowl.

Strawberries viewed from overhead bathed in thick cream

What Kind of Cream is Used?

Traditionally, Wimbledon vendors use single cream, which has a lower fat content compared to the rich double cream popular in the UK.

Since single cream isn’t readily available in the US, a great substitute is simply heavy whipping cream. The most important rule? Always serve it in pourable form, never whipped. The thick, cold cream is simply drizzled over the sweet strawberries and eaten that way.

Is the Cream Sweetenened?

No, traditionally the cream isn’t sweetened. The natural sweetness comes entirely from the ripe strawberries, but you can absolutely add a sprinkle of sugar if you prefer a little extra sweetness.

How to Perfectly Hull Strawberries

Hulling simply means removing the tough, white central core and the green leafy stem of the strawberry. While it might seem like a simple task, doing it right keeps your berries looking beautiful and intact in the bowl.

  • Leaf Removal: Start by gently removing the green leaves from the top of the strawberry.
  • The Cone-Shaped Core: Using a small paring knife, carefully cut a small, shallow “V” or cone shape around the white core at the base. This pops the tough core right out while preserving the gorgeous, plump shape of the berry.
A closeup showing a knife cutting out the hull/stem of a strawberry

Create the Ultimate Wimbledon Style Picnic

Want to bring the courtside experience to your own backyard? In addition to strawberries and cream, you can whip up an array of classic British treats. Try my elegant Tea Sandwiches along with Classic English Scones for the ultimate afternoon tea feast.

Fluffy homemade scones with strawberry jam and butter on wooden serving board, traditional breakfast bakery, soft baked pastries, fresh baked scones recipe, bakery dessert, culinary ginger image.
A closeup of 1 open faced radish sandwich and 2 crustless sandwiches

The Official Drink of Wimbledon

No Wimbledon watch party is complete without the proper drinks. Move over champagne – the true official taste of the tournament since 1971 is the Pimm’s No. 1 Cup. This refreshing gin-based fruit cup is mixed with lemonade and piled high with fresh garnishes. For a fun twist, I love serving my custom Pimm’s Strawberry Mint variation alongside a fresh bowl of berries.

A glass of Pimm's No. 1 cup served with strawberries and cream for Wimbledon
A side view of 2 glasses Pimm's strawberry mint cocktail showing all the strawberries in the glass

Bowls of strawberries and fresh cream with a closeup
A perfect pour of cream over strawberries
5 from 31 reviews

Strawberries and Cream for Wimbledon

Janette
Fresh strawberries are simply bathed in fresh whipping cream which is defines that the British summer and Wimbledon has arrived.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients
 

  • 32 strawberries, hulled
  • 1 cup (236 ml) heavy/single whipping cream
  • Sugar, optional * see note

Instructions
 

  • Add 8 strawberries to each bowl and pour over the heavy whipping cream, serve. This amount can be adjusted accordingly.

Notes

Traditionally, there is no sweetener in the cream, just the sweetness from the strawberries. You can add sugar if you prefer.
 
Serving: 1, Calories: 248kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Sodium: 18mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 9g
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