{"id":184,"date":"2023-09-03T23:18:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-03T23:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/squarespace.joannawhiteart.com\/wp\/2023\/09\/03\/fragola-fabbri-strawberries-in-syrup-review\/"},"modified":"2025-03-22T16:51:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T20:51:22","slug":"fragola-fabbri-strawberries-in-syrup-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2023\/09\/03\/fragola-fabbri-strawberries-in-syrup-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Strawberries in Syrup: Fragola Fabbri Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"White<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Author\u2019s note: This is a completely unbiased review. I have no affiliation with Fabbri and I wasn\u2019t compensated in any way for this review. Don’t raid tombs, children.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No tomb raiding necessary.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I wrote an earlier review of Fabbri\u2019s Candied Ginger in Syrup<\/a>, and one of my readers gave me this jar of Fabbri Fragola<\/a>, or \u201cstrawberries in syrup\u201d as a gift. Oh, frabjous day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I had no idea what to expect for the actual \u201cstrawberries.\u201d It turns out they are a bit like dehydrated berries \u2014 they\u2019re concentrated and firm, with an almost gummy-like texture. It reminds me of soft fruit leather, but it\u2019s also unlike anything I\u2019ve ever experienced before. The exterior of the berries are textured and finely seeded, but the insides are like a tangy fruit chew. The extra moisture is removed, but the strawberry essence is condensed and enhanced. Strawberry mummies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Three<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, these fruit mummies are not much to look at. They\u2019re dark and tar-like, with little resemblance to fresh, red strawberries. The berries range in size, but all of them are smaller than my finger tip. The Fabbri website says they are \u201cwild strawberries,\u201d so that might be why they are all so tiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey, the best things come in petite packages!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The juice has a deep flavor that is much nicer than strawberry jam or most strawberry flavoring I have experienced. It tastes rich without being merely sugary, and there\u2019s a complex \u2014 almost herbal \u2014 aftertaste. It\u2019s tart, but not overpowering. The syrup has a plethora of seeds and tiny strawberry fragments, which makes it more enjoyably natural. At room temperature, the juice is thin and runny, but it thickens to a corn syrup consistency after refrigeration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you can see from my photo, the berries really do<\/em> look like gummy candy when you bite into them. The insides are smooth and uniform. I would think someone was pulling my leg \u2014 and putting fake strawberry candy blobs in these jars \u2014 except the exteriors of the berries are so distinctly natural and unmanufactured. You can\u2019t fake these strawberry seeds, man!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Open<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Does syrup have sugar? Then, yesss!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the distinct features of this product is that you are buying strawberry syrup<\/em> as much as you are buying strawberries<\/em>. The jar contains a significant amount of syrup in proportion to the fruit pieces. This appears to be intentional \u2014 the syrup is meant to be consumed with equal relish as the fruits. More about how to use the syrup later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ingredients<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Storage and Shelf-life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the Fabbri Candied Ginger, the label doesn\u2019t forbid<\/em> refrigeration after opening. It just says store in a cool, dry place. That left me uncertain how to store this. I live in Florida and my house is a balmy 80-85 degrees (don\u2019t be jealous). I left the jar sitting on my table for a week after opening, and it didn\u2019t seem<\/em> to have spoiled, although it had a slight fermented smell that might have been the early stages. I ended up refrigerating it after a week, and that was fine. The syrup gets thicker after refrigeration, and the berries firm up a bit more, but that\u2019s all that happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had emailed Fabbri<\/a> customer service when I bought my jar of Candied Ginger in Syrup, to find out if they really<\/em> did not want me to refrigerate the jar at all, ever.<\/em> I never received a response. So it looks like we consumers are on our own to figure this out! Fabbri consumers unite!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrition Facts in Fabbri Strawberries in Syrup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Nutrition<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Supposedly, there are 30 servings per jar, consisting of 1 tablespoon each. You get 50 calories per tablespoon. Eleven grams of sugar per serving is\u2026expected. I\u2019ve eaten half this jar in the last week, so that means at least 15 servings in 7 days. Yup. Not sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lid<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gaze upon the splendor of this fancy jar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The lid suggests eating the strawberries in a cake. I would, but I don\u2019t have cake. Stop taunting me, you wicked lid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Detail<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a close-up of the fancy, thick ink printed on the jar. The jars are made of ravishing opaque white glass. They\u2019re pretty enough to save and repurpose for other things. In fact, I crave these jars almost as much as I crave fruity mummies in syrup. I use mine to store bulk spices in my spice cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beverages and other syrup ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I used my strawberry syrup to make beverages. I\u2019m a teetotaler, so I opted for sparkling mineral water. The drink has a pleasant, natural taste \u2014 more complex than a typical strawberry soda. After refrigeration, the syrup takes on a viscous consistency, so it dissolves slowly in liquid, and needs to be stirred. As you can see, it appears brown-ish in color, rather than red like strawberries. I\u2019m not mad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think this would be a great fruit syrup for ice cream or cheesecake, too. Or pancakes. Or waffles. Or\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recipes from Fabbri<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fabbri offers a variety of \u201ctempting recipes\u201d for these strawberries on their website<\/a>. A few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n