In my view, there’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of bread and butter. It’s a humble delight that truly encapsulates the best of life’s little joys. So, when presented with the chance to sample seven different types of salted butter, I jumped at it.
Little did I realise that this seemingly straightforward taste test would push me to the limits of human endurance. Until you’ve sampled seven distinct butters in a mere half an hour, you can’t fathom what the body can withstand. I believe I reached a new plane of existence, but the results are in and I have declared a victor – and a vanquished. All the butters were left out on my counter for an hour to achieve optimal spreadability.
The seven contenders were: All Things Butter, Lurpak Slightly Salted, Kerrygold, Anchor, Tesco’s own brand, Aldi Cowbelle and Lidl Dairy Manor.
Lurpak
Now, here’s a classic. I typically opt for this one, but I confess, I seldom savour just bread and butter, so it’s more often used in my cooking.
I had high hopes for Lurpak, but alas, it fell short of expectations. It had an oilier taste than anticipated, and the saltiness was rather understated for my liking.
That said, its texture and spreadability were commendable. All things considered, Lurpak earns a 6/10.
All Things Butter
This butter boasted a beautiful deep yellow hue, and its crumbly texture took me by surprise when I sliced off a piece for tasting. 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.
Aldi Cowbelle
This contender had the best spreadability yet – it glided onto the bread flawlessly and packed the most saltiness. There was a lingering taste of the sea, which I found quite pleasant.
It sported a rich, golden colour and seemed to carry a hint of garlic (though that could be down to the chopping board). Truly delightful.
An 8/10 from me.
Kerrygold
While the spreadability left something to be desired, it didn’t rip the bread, which is always a plus. It had the most striking colour of all the butters, a dazzling yellowish gold – I suppose it’s in the name.
However, it lacked in saltiness, and the texture was rather unremarkable. Overall, it gets a 6/10.
At this juncture, I was flagging. Perhaps I had been too liberal with my spreading, or maybe it was the sweltering 23-degree heat in my bedroom, but I was not feeling top-notch.
With three more butters yet to be tasted, I felt my arteries harden. I was spiralling and in dire need of a glass of water and a lie-down.
I craved a piece of fresh fruit, a comforting embrace, but instead, I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this is my actual job and I’m incredibly fortunate to have it, and soldiered 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.