Little Scarlet is a type of Fragaria virginiana, a wild strawberry, and the name of a jam made from it. The species of strawberry is from North America but this selection is grown only in Britain.
This tiny berry is approximately one fifth the size of a commercially cultivated strawberry, similar in size to the alpine or wood strawberry. The plant was brought to Britain in the 1900s by C.J. Wilkin, a member of the family who own the Wilkin & Sons conserve manufacturing company in Tiptree, Essex, following a visit to the United States where the plant grew wild.[1] The company seems to be the only commercial grower of this fruit anywhere in the world. The Little Scarlet conserve sells in around fifty countries at prices up to US$19 for a 12oz jar.[2]
According to her former chef, Queen Elizabeth II would eat the product when her preferred home-made jam is unavailable.
Ian Fleming portrays James Bond's favorite breakfast to include the product in From Russia, with Love. Pulitzer Prize-winner Philip Roth often wrote about the product, including in Sabbath's Theater.