Oma Heineks Garden Pearl - Everbearing Strawberry

This is where it gets really exciting for anyone who doesn't want to miss out on red gold even in late summer! While other varieties call it a day after the first big flush in June, this special variety is just getting started.

This variety is a true continuous bearer. This means for you: You can snack on fresh berries all summer long and well into September. The fruits are usually medium to large and have a beautiful, uniform heart shape.

The taste? An absolute highlight! The berries have a fine, balanced sweetness, complemented by a very pleasant freshness. They are firm to the bite, but still wonderfully juicy – perfect for fruit tarts, in muesli, or simply pure straight from the garden. Since they retain their firm structure, they also look freshly picked for hours as decoration on cakes.

The absolute highlight is their stamina during harvest:

• The first flush begins classically in June, at the same time as the early varieties.

• After a short break in July, it starts its second, often even more abundant phase from early August.

• You can snack on fresh, sun-kissed fruits directly from the bush well into September and – with mild weather – even until the first frost in October.

Tip: With Grandma Heinek's Best you secure a more abundant harvest. It bears fruit while the "Gartenperle" prepares for its second flush.

The "Strawberry Summer Smash" (Alcohol-free)

This drink perfectly showcases the aromatic sweetness and firm structure of your berries. Since the fruits are so beautifully heart-shaped and firm, they are also excellent as a garnish on the rim of the glass!

Ingredients (for 2 glasses)

• 200 g fresh strawberries (preferably firm, aromatic ones)

• 1 organic lime (juice from one half, the other half in slices)

• 1 handful fresh mint leaves

• 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave syrup (depending on the sweetness of the fruits)

• 300 ml ginger ale or sparkling mineral water

• Crushed ice or ice cubes

Preparation:

1. The "Smashing": Take about 6 to 8 strawberries, remove the green, and cut them into quarters. Put them together with the maple syrup and the juice of half a lime into a tall container or directly into the glasses.

2. Muddling: Gently crush the berries with a muddler (or a spoon) until a fruity pulp forms. Do not purée completely – small fruit pieces make the drink more rustic and beautiful!

3. Flavoring: Briefly clap the mint leaves between your palms (this releases the essential oils) and add them along with the lime slices to the glasses.

4. Chilling: Fill the glasses generously with ice.

5. Pouring: Pour in ginger ale (for a spicy note) or mineral water (for pure freshness) and stir gently once.

6. The Finish: Since your berries grow so uniformly, place a whole, intact fruit on top of the rim of the glass or skewer it onto a small wooden stick.

Pro Tip: If you prefer it a bit "more adult", replace the ginger ale with an alcohol-free tonic water. The bitter note harmonizes fantastically with the strawberry sweetness!