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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Lynette Pinchess & Keiran Fleming

Taste tester tries different ketchup brands and found one 'clear winner'

Tomato ketchup is a go to condiment for many foodies across the world, but there are so many different brands to choose from.

Apart from the big brands like Heinz, most supermarkets also offer their own version that act as a cheaper option, ideal for those working to a budget.

So to help people identify which brand was the best, Lynette Pinchess from Nottinghamshire Live carried out a blind taste test, judging each of the sauces based on flavour and value for money.

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And she revealed that their was one that stood out above the rest.

After failing to get her hands on the own-brand ketchup from Asda or Lidl, Lynette gathered together sauces from Heinz, Aldi, Co-Op and Tesco to determine once and for all which brand was best.

Aldi

The only ketchup available in this supermarket was the low salt and sugar version, and the taste tester could tell the difference immediately.

Lynette wrote: "A strange chemical-like taste, which could have been anything other than tomato. It might be healthier than 'normal' sauce but it should be charged with GBH on my taste buds.

"It's a big bottle too - the biggest of the five - so that is a disappointment. It's healthier with half the sugar and salt but I'd rather have no sauce on my chips than this one. I guess the standard one tastes better but sorry Aldi, I wouldn't buy this again, not even for the satisfying 'farty' noise it made when squirting.

Weight: 625g

Price: 89p

Star rating: 0/5 (no thank you)."

Sauce Shop

This company was created in Nottingham and has a store there, however, bottles are available to purchase from Asda stores across the Uk.

Lynette wrote: "I can instantly tell by the texture that it's different to the supermarket sauces. They're super smooth, whereas this has a thicker consistency. It tastes nothing like the others - it's bursting with flavour and a proper 'adult' sauce.

"But at £2.75, the award-winning sauce is likely to be beyond the reach of struggling households - and I'm not sure whether kids would take to the texture. Because it's in a glass bottle it's harder to control the amount coming out so you're likely to end up with more than you need. If you can afford it, try it - you won't be disappointed by the taste.

Weight: 260g

Price: £.2.75 (in Asda), £2.99 (on Sauce Shop's website).

Star rating: 4/5 (delicious but pricey)."

Tesco

This option proved to be a slight upgrade on Aldi's effort, according to Lynette.

She said: "The seal was easier to open compared to some of the others thanks to the handy little tag. However, it did feel rather judgmental, saying the bottle contained approximately 37 servings. Who are you to say how big my dollop should be?

"The taste is quite pleasant and seems sweeter than some of the others which is strange as the sugar and salt content is actually lower than the other brands. I'd happily buy it for the price.

Weight: 555g

Price: £1

Star rating : 3/5 (not bad for the price)."

Heinz

This big name brand cost significantly more than the other options which resulted in a lower score.

Lynette wrote: "I nearly had palpitations when I saw that a 910g bottle costs £4.50. Asda's own make of ketchup is out of stock (no wonder) so I go for the smallest bottle of Heinz I can find at £2.30.

"My dad, who also loved his condiments, would be turning in his grave at these prices. A rich tomato flavour but just like Heinz's baked beans there's no no standout factor that justifies the price. And because of that it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Weight: 250g

Price: £2.30

Star rating: 2/5 (although the taste is ok the low score is for the smallest bottle at a big price)."

Co-op

Co-op's ketchup to the taste was the 'clear winner' according to the reporter.

She said: "I don't normally shop at the Co-op except for an emergency bottle of milk (wine) because it seems more expensive. If you don't believe me check out this year's Which? survey where it comes bottom of the list of supermarkets, offering worst value for money as well as poor ratings for stock availability, product range and quality.

"But my luck was in when it came to ketchup - there is plenty on the shelf. It's a nightmare getting the seal off (resorting to a knife) but it's worth it. A lovely tomatoey tang, I'd dip my chips in it any day. A big bottle and not too expensive, so it's a good compromise for ketchup lovers. The winner.

Price: £1.20

Weight: 550g

Star rating: 5/5 (a good balance on taste and price)."

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