I have never liked strawberries.

For as long as I could recall, I was never attracted to nor curious to find out how strawberries actually taste like. Not until I was 17 when I was working at Ricepaper@Esplanade (sadly, it closed down).

Sarah had gotten chocolate-coated strawberries from this chocolate store across the passageway. They were going like hotcakes since they were only a dollar each. She offered me one in which I politely declined.

“Why?” she asked me.

“I don’t eat strawberries,” was my reply. “And I’ve never eaten one before.”

“Why not? Here. Try this. It’s sweet. Really.” and she shoved me a wooden fork with a chocolate-coated strawberry.

I took a long look at this fruit that was covered in chocolate before biting into it. The moment I did, I spat it all out into the sink.

I am not sure why I did that, come to think of it. But I do remember that I distinctively did not like the taste of it. Believe me, the chocolate was fine. It’s just something about strawberries that I do not like.

The funny part about me is that even though I do not like strawberries, I love strawberry flavoured sweets and drinks. I like strawberry Fruitella, strawberry ice-blended drinks, strawberry lollipops and blended strawberries. And perhaps, may I add, strawberry chapsticks are interesting.

I guess I don’t like the fruit but love the essence.