The 2018 Dahu Strawberry Season Kicks Off Over the 3-Day New Year Holiday – 4 Popular Varieties Make Their Appearance

Reported by Hua Shaofu / Taipei

In previous years, the strawberry season usually began in late November or early December. This year, due to the leap month in the lunar calendar and the unusually hot autumn weather, farmers in Dahu, Miaoli, postponed planting their strawberry seedlings. With the 3-day New Year holiday just around the corner, strawberries are now entering mass production. Those eager to pick bright red, plump strawberries should definitely make the most of these three days off!

▲ The 3-day New Year holiday marks the peak harvest period for Dahu, Miaoli strawberries – a must-try for those wanting to taste the fresh produce. (Photo /Dahu Strawberry Princess Fan Page)

Four Popular Strawberry Varieties to Delight Your Taste Buds

Wu Wen-wei, manager of the “Dahu Strawberry Princess Fan Page,” which regularly shares information about strawberry farms, explained that the traditional “Fengxiang” variety has become increasingly difficult to cultivate due to warmer climates. Despite repeated replanting efforts, the seedlings struggle to survive. As a result, farmers have explored new methods in recent years, developing several new varieties. In addition to Fengxiang, there are now four main types: Tianlai (also known as apple strawberry), Mixiang, and Xiangshui strawberries, offering the public a chance to enjoy a variety of strawberry flavors.

● Fengxiang Strawberry: Has a soft flesh with a mild acidity and a rich milky aroma. This year, its yield has significantly dropped, keeping prices high.

● Xiangshui Strawberry: Features large, brightly colored berries with a firm texture. It’s currently the favorite among domestic cake makers for decorating cakes – it instantly enhances their visual appeal!

● Tianlai Strawberry: Has an elongated, slightly pointed shape and a subtle green apple fragrance. Its crisp texture resembles that of apples, which is why farmers often refer to it as the apple strawberry.

● Mixiang Strawberry: A hybrid of the Fengxiang variety and others, it’s not as vibrantly colored as the Xiangshui variety but offers a taste similar to Fengxiang, with good sweetness.

Thanks to sunny weather in Dahu, Miaoli over the past week, the speed of strawberry flowering, fruiting, and ripening has accelerated. Those looking to try fresh strawberries should definitely take advantage of the 3-day New Year holiday. For the latest strawberry-picking info, check out theDahu Tourism Websiteand theDahu Strawberry Princess Fan Club.。