The famous Plougastel strawberry is generally a gariguette, an elongated fruit with an excellent flavour, a valeta,an elsanta or a darline. It originated in Brittany in the 18thcentury, thanks to a marine engineer named Amédée-François Frézier, who brought back five plants from Chile and planted them in Brest botanical gardens.
Rich in vitamin C, the Plougastel strawberry is appreciated as it is, with a little sugar and whipped cream, or in a tart or jam. A delight!
In the town of Plougastel-Daoulas, a Strawberry and Heritage Museum tells the story of this popular sweet fruit, from the 18thcentury to the present. A strawberry festival is held every second Sunday in June. You can admire parades in traditional costumes, see the Dance of the Thousands (Danse des Milles) or, if you are a food lover, sample the famous Plougastel strawberry for yourself.