Why are strawberries and cream eaten at Wimbledon?
Strawberries and cream are eaten at Wimbledon because the tournament takes place during the English strawberry season in late June and early July. The dessert has been served at the Championships since the first tournament in 1877.
In the Victorian era, strawberries and cream became a fashionable summer treat. Since Wimbledon is held at the height of the strawberry season, the dish became a natural choice.
The strawberries are usually grown in Kent, known as the Garden of England, and are picked the day before they are served.
A Wimbledon tradition
Visitors eat around two million strawberries during the tournament each year. They are served with fresh cream in a small container.
The price of a portion of strawberries and cream at Wimbledon is closely watched, and for many years it remained unchanged.
Strawberries and cream are as much part of Wimbledon as the white clothing, grass courts and Pimm's.
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in southwest London.