Tested: this is the supermarket's tastiest (and dirtiest) herb butter
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: this is the tastiest (and most disgusting) herb butter from the supermarket.
Ready-made herb butter is one of the conveniences from the supermarket that we often bring home. Because a warm baguette with a generous layer of herb butter is simply enjoyment for free. There are quite a few different varieties in the supermarket. All of these passed the test. Which herb butter from the supermarket comes out the best (and worst) in the test?
Herb butter is located in two places in the supermarket: next to the butter in the refrigerated section or with the snacks. The latter is often ‘fresh’ herb butter. In this test, we also tasted both varieties. Except for the fresh variant in the snack section of Albert Heijn (because it was sold out). At Coop and Vomar, they have a fresh variant of the same brand.
And all herb butters are tasted blind as in every test. So we don't know which supermarket each tub of herb butter is from and what the price is. Fair enough!
TESTED: THIS IS THE TASTIEST (AND MOST DISGUSTING) HERB BUTTER FROM THE SUPERMARKET
At first glance, there is a lot of difference in how the herb butters are piped into the tubs, one with slightly neater dollops than the other. The color is also striking: from bright green to (sorry…) vomit-colored.
1. Dirk, price: €1.87
Where the looks of this herb butter create high expectations, the taste is a deep disappointment. With the first bite, this tastes quite… fishy?! According to Manouk, it’s better suited for mussels than on a baguette. Rick mainly tastes kale and Louise tastes salmon. ‘Actually, this tastes like anything but herb butter.’
2. Aldi, price: €1.25
Number 2 mainly tastes chemical. Robert: ‘As if a lot of fake flavorings have been added.’ It actually reminds us of the taste of a vegetable bouillon cube, but in the form of butter.
3. Lidl, price: €1.79
This spreads quite crumbly on the cracker. Once it's in your mouth, it melts on the tongue. Rick thinks it could be served on a steak in a restaurant. This herb butter is sold as ‘light’, but that's something we don't taste back.
4. Lidl (2), price: €1.25
This herb butter is really very tasty. Louise, Rick, and Robert all taste a lot of rosemary and thyme, but that makes it very delicious. Lauretta: ‘Very spicy and buttery; the best so far.‘
5. Coop and Vomar, price: €1.43
This looks like dried pea soup. You can see a lot of herbs in it and the color is much greener than the other herb butters. Still, we find this a bit ‘vague and dull,’ according to Manouk.
6. Aldi, price: €0.69
Don't be shocked: because this so-called herb cream really has a vomit color, and that texture too,’ says Rick. Just mayo, no herbs, way too salty. Manouk sums it up briefly: ‘Cardboard taste, very cheap: a big no.’ Every disadvantage has its advantage: it also costs nothing.
7. Jumbo, price: €1.25
On to Jumbo. Unfortunately, we are not really enthusiastic here either. Again a bit of a fishy taste and the link with liquid onions is also made. Rick: ‘This really tastes like onion soup.’
8. Dirk (2), price: €1.19
In terms of appearance, this herb butter looks more like cream cheese. Manouk: ‘Nice curl when you run your knife over it, just like in the commercial.’ Robert: ‘Yes, this is it. Incredibly tasty!‘ The rest of the tasting panel agrees: soft, airy, and spicy: a solid pass!
9. Jumbo (2), price: €1.24
With the next herb butter, the most noticeable thing is that it is not very spreadable. We find that a disappointment. Louise also detects a strange, artificial taste. ‘Feels cheap and way too salty, not really nice.’
10. Albert Heijn, price: €1.25
This herb butter is actually very spreadable. It has a slightly softer, almost milky taste. Lots of herbs too. Louise: ‘This is one you can always put on the table.’
Conclusion
The herb butters that we find look the tastiest, are the most disappointing in terms of taste. Especially those from Jumbo and Aldi are disappointing and you might as well leave them. The winner is clear: that is the number 2 herb butter from Lidl (fourth in the tasting line-up). The herb butter in the round tub from Dirk is also very tasty, especially if you like a creamier texture. And that from Appie? It gets a bronze medal.
