Strawberries are among my favourite fruits, and while I enjoy picking them myself, this is only possible for a few months each year in the UK. However, supermarket strawberries are frequently disappointing, with barely any in a packet for an extortionate price. Fed up with the inconsistency, I decided to carry out a small taste test on Sainsbury's strawberries.
I sampled its organic, Taste the Difference, and standard ranges. All were 250g in size, yet had vastly different price points and flavours.
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Sainsbury's Strawberries, SO Organic
This punnet of organic strawberries was also £3.50 for 250g, but I was curious to see whether the organic variety offered a superior taste and flavour that would justify the cost.
Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, so organic produce is often healthier and tastier.
However, I was thoroughly let down by this punnet, as the fruit was entirely without flavour.
They were also beginning to deteriorate on the shelf, making it extremely difficult to find a punnet that would have kept for a few days.
Sadly, they didn't even survive a day, and given the price, I wouldn't purchase them again.
Score: 4/10
Sainsbury's Strawberries Taste the Difference
This punnet of strawberries weighs 250g and costs a hefty £3.50. Fortunately, they are frequently available at Nectar Price for £3, but this remains steep compared to other punnets, so my expectations were high. This punnet, however, proved equally underwhelming. Although the fruit lasted longer in the fridge owing to its non-organic nature, the flavour was watery and lacked taste.
The product description on the Sainsbury's website reads: "Hand-selected to be perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy. Specially selected varieties grown by our dedicated taste the difference growers."
Despite the bold claims, these would not be making it into my shopping basket again — far too costly for what was a thoroughly disappointing flavour.
Score: 4/10
Sainsbury's Strawberries
Priced at £2.25 for 250g, these strawberries were considerably more affordable than the other varieties for an equivalent amount of fruit.
Though they lacked an impressive appearance, the taste was remarkably sweet and thoroughly enjoyable.
Ordinarily, the pricier Taste the Difference or Finest supermarket ranges would be my go-to choice, yet on this occasion, the budget option came out on top. The texture was equally impressive — firm yet not unpleasantly hard, unlike other varieties that have let it down in the past.
The only drawbacks were their modest size and a shelf life that could have been more generous. Nevertheless, I shall be keen to put them to the test once again when British strawberries come into season.
Score: 9/10