The Tree That Lied: Strawberry Tree

Despite the name, the Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo) has nothing to do with strawberries. The only thing they have in common is red coloured fruit.

It's not the only plant trying to pass off a fake ID. Pineapples aren't apples, coconuts aren't nuts, and raspberries aren't true berries. Back in the olden days, plants were sometimes named based on their appearance rather than botanical relationships.

Chances are, you might not have ever heard of a Strawberry Tree, let alone tasted it! Because the soft fruit bruises easily, you won't find it in supermarkets. But once upon a time, it was commonly enjoyed.

The ancient Roman historian, Pliny the Elder, recorded that Strawberry Tree fruit was ‘meh’ tasting. But this is the same guy who claimed rubbing a hyena's brain on your head could cure baldness.

In Irish folklore, the tree was planted near homes to ward off evil spirits. Medieval herbalists valued it for soothing sore throats and aiding digestion. Madrid's coat of arms of features a bear standing on its hind legs, reaching up to eat from a Strawberry Tree.

The taste of Strawberry Tree fruit is about as polarising as pineapple on a pizza. It’s basically the coriander debate of the fruit world. Some find the grainy texture and mild taste underwhelming, while others love its floral sweetness. I personally can't get enough of it, I reckon it tastes like nectarine.

So how do you identify them? Look for the following:

Fruit

• Round red fruit, about 1-2 cm

• Rough bumpy skin

• Unripe fruit is green or yellow.

• Ripe fruit is bright red, with orange flesh.

• Tiny edible seeds throughout the flesh

• Ripe between March and June.

Leaves

• Dark green, glossy, and serrated

Tree

• Grows up to 10m tall, but even small trees can be loaded with fruit

• Rounded shape

• Destinctive red-brown bark, which can peel easily in thin sections, revealing light brown underneath

Flowers

• White or pink, bell-shaped, drooping clusters with a waxy texture

• They have a unique characteristics of simultaneous flowers and fruit—ripe fruit and new flowers often appear at the same time.

I spotted a small tree in my home suburb of Reservoir and pinched some fruit just last week! There’s heaps around Mount Evelyn and Tyson’s Knob if you happen to be wandering that neck of the woods.

You’ll also find a few in Mount Macedon and the Dandenong Ranges—so if you’re mushroom foraging in autumn, keep your eyes peeled for these too.

They’re often planted as ornamental trees, so watch for them spilling onto footpaths or growing in parks. I know a solid spot in a graveyard, but eating fruit from there feels a little too ‘circle of life’ for my taste.

There's many ways to enjoy Strawberry Tree fruit. Personally, I love eating them fresh—whether on their own or as a topping for pavlova. They make a lovely jam you can pair with cheese. Their flavour becomes milder when cooked, so if I’m baking them into a crumble or pie, I like to mix half Strawberry Tree fruit with half raspberries.

Traditionally, the fruit is distilled into liqueurs and spirits, like Medronho, a brandy made in Portugal.

Even the flowers and leaves can be brewed into tea with a range of medicinal benefits. However, if you have any medical conditions, check for potential interactions before trying it.