Waitrose is temporarily stocking a rare berry that fell out of favour in the nineteenth century.
Waitrose is now stocking a berry, officially named ‘fragaria Moschata’ but which it calls the ‘bubbleberry’, which was fashionable in the nineteenth century before falling out of favour.
The new name Waitrose has come up derives from the fact that it tastes like bubblegum, though its decline in popularity came long before the rise of that particular sweet.
The bubbleberry looks like a rather pallid strawberry. It is, indeed, a member of the strawberry family, and is also known as the hautboy strawberry or the musk strawberry.
Waitrose berry buyer Nikki Baggott explains that it is “one of the most aromatic berries we have ever sold… [it] has an incredibly strong perfume which will take you straight back to your childhood. They have an incredibly familiar taste, which is much more likely to be found in a sweet shop than the fruit and vegetable aisle!”
How to serve bubbleberries
Bubbleberries go well with ice cream, or served with marshmallows, says the supermarket – or you could try freezing them and pouring melted white chocolate over them.
Where can I get them?
Sadly, they’re only available in a few stores in London right now, and are only available for five weeks from 30th April.
A spokesperson told us that they’re uncertain of future stocking plans right now, as they’re a “very delicate fruit” grown in small quantities.
Waitrose stores at Canary Wharf, Finchley, Gloucester Road, Holloway Road, and Wandsworth will be stocking them, as will John Lewis food halls in Oxford Street and Bluewater.
Have you ever tried these berries before? What did you make of them? Let us know in the Comments below.
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