Strawberries are tastier and even sweeter if you add 1 unusual ingredient

Strawberry season is in full swing as the UK finds itself in the hot throes of summer - and while the juicy red fruit is already delicious, there's a way to elevate its flavour and make it taste even better.

Strawberry purists might find the addition of this ingredient a bit odd or unusual, but there's definitive merit to the recipe.

For those itching to know - sprinkling black pepper on strawberries will make them taste sweeter and even more luscious. Black pepper is known to intensify the flavour of strawberries, and there are a few scientific reasons why.

Black pepper contains piperine, which is a compound that stimulates the taste buds and receptors in our mouth, enhancing our perception of flavour. The pepper also neutralises and cuts through the strawberry's natural acidic tartness, in turn bringing out its sweeter flavour profile. The slight heat of the pepper amplifies the fruit's sweetness and intensifies its overall flavour.

Piperine can also increase the absorption of certain nutrients, enhancing the bioavailability of compounds such as antioxidants (which are amply present in strawberries). This means that the summer fruit's beneficial properties may be more easily absorbed by your body when black pepper is sprinkled on.

Black pepper isn't the only unusual ingredient that can be added to strawberries to enhance their flavour - balsamic vinegar is a great addition too.

Picky eaters might find the thought of balsamic vinegar and black pepper on strawberries a bit rattling, but don't knock the idea before you've tried it for yourself.

In fact, you can try this simple recipe by The Spruce Eats which combines both the unusual ingredients with the berries, making them a great addition to both savoury and sweet dishes. These berries can then be served alongside goat cheese or placed atop a dessert dish like pound cake or a scoop of ice cream to take it to the next level.

It goes without saying - the better the quality of the balsamic vinegar and strawberries, the tastier this recipe will be. The best part? The only equipment required is a knife to slice the ruby fruit.

• 1 quart strawberries, rinsed, hulled, and sliced
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

First, take the strawberries and give them a good and thorough rinse. Next, hull and slice them, followed by placing the berries onto a medium nonreactive bowl (made of materials such as glass or ceramic). Then sprinkle the berries with sugar and balsamic vinegar and toss gently to properly coat them. Allow the strawberries to macerate in the sugar and vinegar mix for approximately 15 minutes. Next, sprinkle 4 to 5 grinds of coarse black pepper onto the fruit and toss to coat. Allow all the flavours to blend together for another five minutes before serving.

Social media users are also advocating for the unique combo, with one Redditor commenting: "My boyfriend made a strawberry and balsamic preserve with freshly cracked black pepper that was amazing."

While another user chimed in: "Really nice, freshly ground on sliced strawberries. Try then drizzling with balsamic vinegar - just lightly. Delicious."

And a third added some more unique ingredient combinations to the mix: "Strawberries + either black pepper, basil, or balsamic vinegar are all delicious. I tend to macerate my strawberries with sugar, a little orange juice, and some vanilla balsamic I picked up at a specialty store."