The Bossche Bollen test from the supermarket
Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the gourmands at online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat it and what to cook. This time our cheffies serve you: the Bossche bollen test from the supermarket.
Bossche bollen are not available at every supermarket, but if they are in the refrigerated section, we strike. Which ‘supermarket chocolate ball’ is the tastiest and which one should you better ignore? The FavorFlav test panel took on the heavy task of testing Bossche bollen from four different supermarkets. ‘This one looks like a turd, sorry to say.’
Simple but oh so delicious: a huge cream puff filled with whipped cream and then a thick layer of chocolate on the outside. You recognize the best bollen by that chocolate layer: it must completely cover the cream puff. And of course, the chocolate ball is filled to the brim with fresh whipped cream. Are you eating it with a little fork? Then everyone can see that you are not from the south. Don't be afraid of messy fingers, just bite off that delicious ball like an apple.
Where is Jumbo?
We got Bossche bollen from four supermarkets to compare them. Plus, Albert Heijn, Vomar, and Dirk have the Bossche bol in the pastry section, in the cooling. Too bad they were just out at Jumbo, because we hear good stories about that. Lidl? No, they don't do Bossche bollen, so we unfortunately have to skip those.
A bit of cheating
First, let's take a look at those bollen: the one from Albert Heijn is a lot lighter than the other test bollen. ‘Looks like milk chocolate,’ says Rik. ‘And that shouldn't be, right?’ That's right, it should be dark, but if a bol is tasty, we are willing to cheat a little with the rules. Cheating has also been done at Dirk, because those Bossche bollen are not nice and round and smooth, but bumpy and lumpy. ‘Looks like a turd, sorry to say,’ says Bo. And Lauretta keeps it neat: ‘Less attractive. But maybe the taste makes up for it.’
From left to right: Plus – €3.50. ‘Nice glaze, nice whipped cream.’ Winner of the test! Albert Heijn – €3. ‘Thick layer of chocolate, look at that!’ A slightly lighter color than the other bollen. Vomar – €2.99. Grainy whipped cream, not a nice texture. Dirk – €2.99. Is it rustic, or is it just ugly? It's quite tasty, but the glaze tastes like cocoa fantasy and that's a shame.
Mistake, it can happen
When cutting the bollen, it becomes apparent: the bol from Albert Heijn seems only half filled. There is a big bubble of air in the bol, where whipped cream could have been. Is this a mistake? It can happen, of course. The second bol (thankfully they come together in a box) is indeed full of whipped cream. ‘That glaze is very nice, despite the light color,’ tastes Lauretta. ‘Thick layer too, you should see!’ And the whipped cream also tastes good.
Saving the world
The tastiest bol from the test is also the most expensive: two bollen for €3.50, bought at Plus. The whipped cream seems to be a bit overwhipped: when you look at it, you see some bumps. But it tastes great, and the glaze is really yum delicious. Bonus: this bol is made with Fair Trade cocoa. Hop, immediately saved the world by eating such a bol.
Fat layer
We are less enthusiastic about the bol from Vomar. ‘The whipped cream looks like cottage cheese,’ says Bo. ‘Not tasty, but grainy.’ Rik: ‘There’s a layer of fat sticking to your palate from this whipped cream.’ And the bol that doesn't look nice, the one from Dirk? ‘It's quite tasty, but the chocolate layer doesn't taste that good. It resembles cheap chocolate, that cocoa fantasy,’ says Rik.
Through the fingers
A lot of difference between the Bossche bollen, with the Plus bol as the winner and the Albert Heijn as a nice second, if you overlook that light color and a moderately filled cream puff.
