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Guide to Strawberry Festival in Mahabaleshwar

Adorning the Sahyadri mountain range, Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani are the most popular hill stations in Maharashtra having served as the summer capital during the British Raj. The pristine locales only rivaled by the delicious ‘Mahabaleshwar Strawberry’.

Strawberries were introduced to Mahabaleshwar by the British & has become popular as ‘Mahabaleshwar Strawberry’ .  In 2010 ‘Mahabaleshwar Strawberry’ obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) tag [A geographical indication (GI) tag is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area, which has special quality or reputation attributable to its geographical origin].

Strawberry Festival:

Being a seasonal fruit, the annual Strawberry Festival in Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani is a celebration of the strawberry harvest held from December to April culminating in a 3-day strawberry-mela during the Easter Weekend in April.

However fresh strawberries and strawberry-based foods are available throughout between December and April.

What and Where to Eat Strawberries:

Mahabaleshwar strawberry is used in making various food products such as preserves, jams, fruit crushes, ice-creams, milkshakes, strawberry with fresh cream, strawberry fudge and jelly toffees

Strawberries with Fresh Cream:

The best way to consume strawberries!! Strawberries with fresh cream consists of layers of fresh strawberries and fresh cream, ice-cream. One can also add chocolates, mulberries etc to this heavenly delight.

Where to Eat: The best version of this is at The House of Berries, Kates Point Road, Mahabaleshwar

Strawberry and Cream with Chocolate at Kates Point Road Mahabaleshwar
Strawberry and Cream with Chocolate – Yumm!!

Strawberry Fruit:

More than 50% of The Mahabaleshwar Strawberry is dominated by Sweet Charlie variety and is absolutely delicious to taste.

Where to buy: Main Market, Mahabaleshwar @ 80 -100 INR for 1 kg (trust me 1 kg is just not enough!!)

Fresh Strawberries and Mulberries at Mahabaleshwar Market
Fresh Strawberries and Mulberries

Fresh Strawberries with Nutella:

A DIY dessert – dip fresh strawberries in Nutella to find Nirvana!!

Strawberries with Nutella at Strawberry Festival Mahabaleshwar
Strawberry with Nutella – the most easy dessert to make 😛

Other Must-Eat Places in Mahabaleshwar:

Sri SiddiVinayak Snacks Centre, Mahabaleshwar:

A humble café serving popular Maharashtrian snacks such as Sabudana vada, batata vada, poha, vada pav with delicious chai.

  • What to Eat: Chai (elaichi-flavored) and vada-pav
  • Location: Mahabaleshwar Main Market (end of the street)
Chai and Vada Pav Sri SiddiVinayak Snacks Centre in Mahabaleshwar
Chai and Vada in Mahabaleshwar

Jelly Toffees, Mahabaleshwar:

Available in every-possible flavour ranging from fruits to pan-masala, these jelly toffees are apt for snacking during those lazy walks.

Where to buy: plenty of shops in Mahabaleshwar Main Market

Jelly Toffees at Mahabaleshwar Main Market
Jelly Toffees!!

Here are some tips to carry strawberries back home:

  • Carry strawberries in a vented box – which allows air to pass through & keeps them dry
  • Storage: can be kept outside if consumed within 2 days, else refrigerate the fruits (No Deep Freeze)
  • DO NOT remove the green stem-leaves on top of the fruits while carrying/storing them (Removal of the stem evaporates the moisture of the fruit)
  • Wash the Strawberries ONLY before eating – DO NOT wash them and store (Strawberries are like sponges, they absorb water immediately, which may lead to fungus formation during transit)
Pratapgad Fort Maharashtra
Must Visit: Pratapgad Fort – 30 kms from Mahabaleshwar
View from Kates Point Mahabaleshwar
View from Kates Point Mahabaleshwar
Enroute Mahabaleshwar on a Kawasaki Versys 650
Mahabaleshwar – Best Relished on a Motorcycle 🙂

11 responses to “Guide to Strawberry Festival in Mahabaleshwar”

  1. Babushka Avatar

    Yum! And super delighted to see the prices of strawberries per kilo! Here we get a measly handful for 80 bucks! Back when we visited from college, we used to have paper cones full of strawberries, akin to having bhelpuri from a chaat stall, for 12 bucks a helping. 🙂 Good to know that some things haven’t changed entirely. 🙂

    1. Ajay Ananth Avatar

      And yet we get awfully-tasting strawberries here 🙁 Mahabaleshwar is a strawberry lover’s paradise wrt taste & price 🙂
      I doubt I can eat any strawberries from elsewhere :p

  2. ananyafilbert Avatar

    Amazing read Ajay! Really on point and the photographs are so delectable, I almost reached out and picked a strawberry! 🙂

    A food trip with your highness is a must!

    1. Ajay Ananth Avatar

      Thanks Ananya 🙂 It would be my pleasure 🙂

  3. lifeintrips Avatar

    Wow… delicious post…

    1. Ajay Ananth Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

  4. vysh Avatar
    vysh

    Really good article 🙂 Thanks mate.. Im looking to visit in 2018. Is it a must to visit during the strawberry fest around april or anytime around late dec to april will do ? to feel the vibe of strawberries 😀 😀 ?? if yes.. is there any perticular name or place or event that i should not miss there at mahabaleshwar for strawberries ?

    1. Ajay Ananth Avatar

      Thanks Vysakh – if you are a strawberry fan, the strawberry season between March to April is the best time to visit 🙂

  5. […] the vineyards. Apparently, in the month of April, the hill-station is thronged by visitors for the strawberry festival which is celebrated across the various […]

  6. […] by-far the most popular ‘berry’ used in desserts. In-fact next-to/on-par with mangoes, strawberry festivals are celebrated across the world and in India at […]

  7. Strawberry Farm (Laxmi Strawberry Farm) Avatar

    Laxmi strawberry farm is situated in the heart of strawberry fields in mahabaleshwar, Amidst the valley offering the most panoramic view. call on 9420628395.

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