More than dessert: how did strawberries and cream become the symbol of the Wimbledon tennis tournament?
The story goes back to 1877, to the first Wimbledon tennis tournament. The timing of the tournament coincided almost perfectly with the British wild strawberry season: the fruit ripens from late June to early July, making it an obvious choice for hosting the summer sporting event.
However, the pairing of strawberries and cream is a much older tradition in Great Britain. According to the best-known story, wild strawberries were served with fresh cream at a banquet at the court of Henry VIII in the 16th century, when Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was serving them. Although the authenticity of this story has not been conclusively proven, the dessert has become a classic of British summers over the centuries. By the time the first Wimbledon tournament was held in 1877, the seasonal pairing was already well-known – and Wimbledon quickly made it its own tradition.
Timing is one of the keys to success
The strawberries on offer at Wimbledon are particularly luscious, at their best, as the British strawberry crop is at its peak. The fruit is sweeter and more fragrant than at other times of the year, so the tournament organisers have always sourced their produce from local producers. For decades, the supply has been provided by Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent, from where the freshly picked strawberries set off at dawn to be delivered to the spectators that same day.
The simplest dessert became a gymnastics icon
The popularity of strawberries and cream lies in its simplicity. A serving requires only a few fresh strawberries and cold cream, yet it perfectly evokes the atmosphere of an English summer. While many of Wimbledon’s traditions have changed over the decades, this dessert has remained almost untouched, the recipe the same, and the experience passed down from generation to generation. Interestingly, in the early years, guests at the Royal Box often received raspberries, as they were considered a more refined fruit, but strawberries quickly became a true trademark of the tournament.
Shocking numbers behind Wimbledon's iconic dessert
The popularity of the dessert is also clearly demonstrated by the numbers: 283,000 servings of strawberries and cream are expected to be served during the 2026 tournament. During the two weeks of the tournament, around 2.5 million strawberries and more than 17,000 liters of cream could be consumed.
