Things I didn't try early on: Echigohime strawberries

Despite living in Niigata for years, I was embarrassingly late to the party when it came to Echigohime strawberries. The first bite I ever tried was a genuine "where have you been all my life?" moment.

Echigohime strawberries are famously large, soft, and sweet, and they've got far less acidity than many other varieties. Unlike firmer strawberries that are bred to travel well, Echigohime are delicate and easily bruised, which is why they're rarely shipped far from Niigata...and probably why I'd never even heard their name before moving out here from Tokyo. The good thing about their softness is that they're usually eaten close to where they're grown at peak ripeness, and it shows.

The climate out here plays a big role, too. The cool winters and careful greenhouse cultivation allow the fruit to develop sugar slowly, resulting in a perfect sweetness that feels almost dessert-like on its own. Highly recommend trying them if you're ever out this way around winter/early spring!