Distinguishing Dalat Strawberries – With its fresh climate, diverse flora and fauna, and especially its vast strawberry fields, Da Lat has become a favorite destination for tourists. In this article, HDV Local will explore Dalat strawberries and how to distinguish them from Chinese strawberries.
Recently, Chinese strawberries have been widely sold in Hanoi and many other places, falsely advertised as Dalat strawberries. Let's learn how to distinguish them.
The Best Way to Distinguish Dalat and Chinese Strawberries
Dalat strawberries have the scientific name Fragaria, or are often called garden strawberries, and are a genus of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Strawberries originated in the Americas and were crossbred by European gardeners around the 18th century to create the widely used strawberry variety of today. This species was first scientifically described by (Weston) Duchesne around 1788. Strawberries are grown for their fruit in temperate regions. With their seductive aroma and sweet and sour taste, strawberries are loved by many.
In Vietnam, the cool climate of the Dalat mountains is suitable for growing strawberries, so this fruit is considered a specialty of the Dalat plateau.
Strawberries are very good for health and are often used to prepare dishes, smoothies, and ice cream. Therefore, they are purchased by many people. Understanding this, some sellers have taken advantage of the Dalat strawberry brand to make a profit. They import Chinese strawberries and advertise them as Dalat strawberries, then sell them at exorbitant prices of about 20,000 – 25,000 VND, sometimes even 30,000 VND/100 grams.
To distinguish Dalat and Chinese strawberries, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:
Regarding fruit shape:
– Dalat strawberries vary in size, with some being quite small (from French varieties), and come in many different shapes.
– Chinese strawberries are relatively uniform in size and very visually appealing.
Regarding fruit size:
– Dalat strawberries are moderately sized, not too large, whereas Chinese strawberries are significantly larger.
Firmness:
– Dalat strawberries are soft, their skin is not as smooth and glossy as Chinese strawberries, and they have a moderate sheen and soft skin.
Regarding color:
– Chinese strawberries have a slightly red color similar to Dalat strawberries. The leaves covering the stem are vibrant green, covering more than 1/3 of the strawberry, and are dark brown, thick, and cover a lot of the stem.
– Dalat strawberries are bright, with an uneven dark pink or reddish-brown color between fruits, and the area around the stem is slightly white. The leaves covering the stem of Dalat strawberries are thin, small, and light pink. Some Dalat strawberry varieties, when imported from France, have a darker red color than usual (though not as dark as Chinese strawberries), but the fruit is quite small compared to normal. The leaves covering Dalat strawberries are also small and quite short (as shown in the image below).
Regarding taste:
– Dalat strawberries are slightly floury, chewy, sour, and have a mild aroma.
– Chinese strawberries have a naturally sweet taste, without a sour note, and a distinctive aroma.
Fruit flesh:
– Dalat strawberries have bright red flesh interspersed with white, while Chinese strawberries have a darker red color, with very little white inside.
Regarding preservation time:
– This characteristic is the easiest to recognize because genuine Dalat strawberries are almost free of any preservatives, so they cannot be stored for long, usually for about 2-3 days at 15 degrees Celsius. If it's sunny and dry for about a day, the stem will wilt and darken.
– In contrast, Chinese strawberries remain fresh for 7-10 days under normal conditions (25-32 degrees Celsius).
Conclusion:
Based on the methods of distinguishing Dalat and Chinese strawberries that HDV Local has provided above, please pay attention before buying strawberries when traveling to Dalat to ensure authenticity.