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Try dropping a pineberry in your bubbly while you watch WimbledonWhoever indoctrinated us to immediately think ‘strawberries and cream’ at the merest mention of Wimbledon did a marvelous job. They’re as ubiquitous as tennis balls to the lawn championships. But when it comes to fruity snacks, the strawberry doesn’t have to be the king of the British summer. Instead, Y! Lifestyle let ourselves get talked into replacing everyone’s favourite fruit with a smaller, paler version – the pineberry. But will it catch on?
We popped along to a Champagne masterclass to find out a bit more about our favourite tipple and how it works with these unusual little fruits.
“The pineberry is delightfully eye-catching. It’s a petite, pale fruit for the summer with a surprisingly sumptuous aroma for its size, full of pineapple and strawberry appeal. This makes it a sunny complement to Moët & Chandon’s complex blend of citrus freshness with brioche and creamy undertones,” explains Sarah Jane Evans, Master of Wine and Champagne expert.
“As well as looking pretty cute, they’re also tarter than strawberries so they go perfectly with a glass of bubbles,” Jane told us. “And they’re small and more delicate and generally all about the same size so you don’t have to worry about getting a big fat juicy one that’s a disappointment or a little one that’s too sour.”
But what do they actually taste like? They’re not really like strawberries at all. Far less sweet and with a pineapple smell and tang, they have a clean taste that cuts through the bubbles in champagne nicely. But if you’ve a sweet tooth they may be too tarte, especially if you’re hoping for a good whack of fructose. Try taking the edge of by dipping in a little cream.
Our favourite trick is to drop the berries into champers and fish them out (as elegantly as possible) a few minutes later when they’ve infused. Delish!
To fully enjoy the tennis season, head to Bluebird Chelsea for a glass of Moët (Official Champagne of the Lawn Tennis Association) and a pineberry (or five) while you watch the action. Visit Facebook.com/MoetUK.
