A petite strawberry with a French name, fraises des bois are fragrant, naturally sweet and perfectly formed.

Fraises des bois literally translates to "strawberries from the woods." While "wild strawberries" and "alpine strawberries" are used as synonyms for fraises des bois, true wild strawberries grow in the woods; alpine strawberries grow in the mountains.

There are many varieties of fraises des bois, such as the slightly larger Mara des bois, from Brittany, and gariguette from the South of France.

Recipe: Chilled Strawberries With Warm Rhubarb Compote (Cookthink)
Recipe: Strawberries Tossed In Peppered Vinegar (Barbara Kafka)