Is there anything more comforting than a perfectly toasted slice of bread, smothered in butter? I don’t think so. But with so many options, which one tastes the best?
In my humble opinion, there’s nothing that quite matches the simple joy of bread and butter. It’s a modest pleasure that perfectly captures life’s small delights.
So, when the opportunity arose to taste test seven different varieties of salted butter, I leapt at it.
Little did I know that this seemingly uncomplicated task would push me to the brink of human resilience. Until you’ve tasted seven unique butters within a mere 30 minutes, you can’t comprehend what the body can endure.
I think I touched upon a new level of consciousness, but the results are in and I have crowned a champion – and a loser. All the butters were left out on my worktop for an hour to reach optimal spreadability.
The seven contenders were: All Things Butter, Lurpak Slightly Salted, Kerrygold, Anchor, Tesco’s own brand, Aldi Cowbelle and Lidl Dairy Manor, reports the Express.
Lurpak
I held high expectations for Lurpak, but sadly, it didn’t meet them. It had a greasier flavour than expected, and the saltiness was rather muted for my palate.
However, its texture and spreadability were praiseworthy. Taking everything into account, Lurpak secures a 6/10.
All Things Butter
Once softened, however, it revealed a rich, creamy, and indulgent flavour with just the right amount of salt.
This butter tasted like pure luxury, and I was smitten. A well-deserved 9/10.A well-earned 9/10.
Aldi Cowbelle
It boasted a rich, golden hue and seemed to carry a hint of garlic (though that could be due to the chopping board). Truly delightful.
An 8/10 from me.
Kerrygold
This one was found wanting in the saltiness department and the texture left much to be desired. All things considered, it scores a 6/10
At this point, I was beginning to flag. Whether it was my overzealous spreading technique or the stifling 23-degree heat in my bedroom, I wasn’t feeling at my best.
With three more butters still on the tasting agenda, I could practically feel my arteries stiffening. I was spiralling, desperately in need of a glass of water and a lie-down.
I yearned for a piece of fresh fruit, a comforting hug, but instead, I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this is my actual job and how incredibly lucky I am to have it, and bravely carried on.
Lidl Dairy Manor
This butter was almost white in colour, and very salty, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Its spreadability was top-notch, and given my preference for saltier variants, this one scores a 7/10.
Tesco
Tesco’s own brand, however, was a letdown. It was overly oily and lacked flavour, missing that distinct salty kick.
Despite its commendable spreadability and appealing colour, I can only award Tesco a 4/10.
Anchor
The finish line was within reach. This butter had a pleasant texture in the mouth and boasted a rich, creamy taste, albeit lacking the desired saltiness – instead, it carried an unusual hint of garlic, similar to the Aldi variant, which could very well have been due to my wooden chopping board.
It was decent, but nothing extraordinary, thus earning a score of 5/10.
Winner
In conclusion, All Things Butter emerged as the top butter, while Tesco’s own brand unfortunately fell short. However, the most significant takeaway was a valuable lesson – the saying ‘too much of a good thing’ holds true.
Should another lavish taste test come my way, I’ll be sure to enlist some help.