This is something iv been researching, products with a very high sugar content and high boiling point should not need any kind of preservative if made correctly. Sugar is itself a natural preservative and has been used as one for numerous years, Sugar in the right format can also be used as a moisture retainer so products that are meant to have a soft texture remain soft for the maximum amount of time so to extend the shelf life of a product.
Most of us think of sugar as the white granulated stuff we spoon into our tea or coffee but there are numerous combinations and formats sugar can be made into, here are a few to mention, Liquid, Powder, Syrup, Inverts, these are just a small selection of formats, sugar can be added to a product and called something else on the ingredient list, look out for Invert on an ingredient list you will be surprised in the amount of products this is in, another one is dextrose the name for a powdered sugar, dextrose, fructose and sucrose all are sweeteners in some shape or form
Why do sweets need artificial flavouring or colouring when we have natural colours and flavours we can use? The trend has started to change and big manufactures and producers have now started to realize us the general public want natural flavours and colours and have so started to change the way they make there products, we all like to feel we are eating healthy and in moderation a sweet treat now and again has become the norm for most households.
Artificial flavours and colours are used for cheapness and ease in the formulations of food products, but as the change from unnatural to natural starts to kick in manufactures are realizing there are quite good products on the market now days that make reformulation quite simple and easy, For anyone out there that thinks bringing a product to market is simple i have to say here it can take years before a recipe from the idea stage hits the shelf depending on how much money you have of course!
Happy Eating!
Follow Me On Twitter @Fudgegeezer
All comments in this blog are of my own opinion
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
IS SUPERMARKET FUDGE ANY GOOD?
Today I decided to look in the top 5 supermarkets for some fudge, all had it in stock but i had a criteria in my mind, The fudge couldn't just be in a plastic bag, it had to be made with butter and have NO artificial flavorings or colourings.
All the supermarkets met my criteria but which was the least expensive? and was it any good? lets find out!
The one i chose was Tesco, this was the least expensive out of the 5 and also was in a nice little cube box, it has no artificial flavorings or colourings and from reading the ingredients on the back I cant see that it has any artificial preservatives either, in fact the ingredients read and are the same as lots of other quality fudges on the market today which are a lot more expensive!
Opening up the box the fudge is packed in an air tight clear film bag which almost fills the whole size of the cube box its packaged in and from first impressions looks value for money.
After taking the bag out the box i decided to have a count up and see how many chunks of this wonderfully coloured, mouthwatering confection iv got, I count 15 good sized chunks and i cant wait to open the bag!.
Fudge is a typically English confection but rummer has it that it was the Americans who invented this tasty treat.
I empty the bag and start to explore the chunks, all look to be different sizes although some are uniformed, this gives me the impression that the fudge looks like any other fudge iv seen and tasted in typically English seaside shop, the colour is good a light brown not too dark and i can see little surgery Crystals on the fudge which form as the fudge starts to set.
I can resist no longer and pop a chunk in my mouth, The first thing that hits your taste-buds is the smooth tasting butter quickly followed by that glorious fudgey toffee flavour all lovers of this confection like, the fudge just seems to melt away in your mouth its not at all hard or chewy, Its soft and the sugar crystals are so small they evaporate on impact of hitting the inside of your mouth. Id say this fudge has been well beaten after the initial boiling stage to get it this smooth.
Summing up!
Now im a fudge connoisseur or should be after making the stuff every day for well over 10 years and iv got to say this fudge is good fudge, it don't leave an acrid taste at the back of your throat you sometimes get with less expensive ingredients, or badly made fudge.
This fudge makes your taste buds explode in a mouthwatering array of buttery toffeeness and you just want to pop the next chunk in just to make sure your senses are right. Have to say Iv only got 3 chunks left!!
If you want to have a mouthwatering fudge experience then Id run along to your nearest Tesco and pick up a pack today i assure you, you wont be disappointed!
Happy Eating!
Follow me on Twitter @fudgegeezer
All comments in this blog are of my own personal opinion.
All the supermarkets met my criteria but which was the least expensive? and was it any good? lets find out!
The one i chose was Tesco, this was the least expensive out of the 5 and also was in a nice little cube box, it has no artificial flavorings or colourings and from reading the ingredients on the back I cant see that it has any artificial preservatives either, in fact the ingredients read and are the same as lots of other quality fudges on the market today which are a lot more expensive!
Opening up the box the fudge is packed in an air tight clear film bag which almost fills the whole size of the cube box its packaged in and from first impressions looks value for money.
Fudge is a typically English confection but rummer has it that it was the Americans who invented this tasty treat.
Summing up!
Now im a fudge connoisseur or should be after making the stuff every day for well over 10 years and iv got to say this fudge is good fudge, it don't leave an acrid taste at the back of your throat you sometimes get with less expensive ingredients, or badly made fudge.
This fudge makes your taste buds explode in a mouthwatering array of buttery toffeeness and you just want to pop the next chunk in just to make sure your senses are right. Have to say Iv only got 3 chunks left!!
If you want to have a mouthwatering fudge experience then Id run along to your nearest Tesco and pick up a pack today i assure you, you wont be disappointed!
Happy Eating!
Follow me on Twitter @fudgegeezer
All comments in this blog are of my own personal opinion.
Monday, 23 September 2013
JAM TEACAKES
Looking back on what my mum loved for a mid morning or afternoon treat with her cuppa, iv decided to review jam teacakes, I still love these today (probably because i ate so many as a child).
These sweet treats are often overlooked I feel, but seem to still be loved by the older generation, lets give the humble jam teacake a boost!!.
I decided not to buy my regular brand so I give a fair review this is what I found!!
Id never heard or to be honest even looked for anything else except my normal brand but spotted Lee's Teacakes and thought Iv give them a review, the packaging is quite simple and plain, the teacake looks appealing and full of jam.
Opening up the packaging you see the teacakes huddled together in there plastic tray, not very appealing but it looks like any other to be honest.
The teacakes smell nice and I decide to have a coffee to wash one or three down.
The teacakes look appealing, the chocolate on top is shining and id probably get a couple of bites out of one before its gone, you can make out the biscuit base through the chocolate coating and I cant wait to tuck in. I decide to cut one open to see what its like inside
WOW!!! that has totally surprised me, now im no good with a knife and have just cut the teacake in half but it looks almost exactly the same as the picture on the packaging!! How often do you buy something these days and what you actually get looks nothing like the picture on the packaging?, I'm impressed and that's before iv eaten it..
The biscuit base is soft but has a little crunch to it, love the marshmallow all squidgy and soft and WOW that hit of jammy goodness mmmm im in heaven, I cant believe the amount of jam in these teacakes their AMAZING!!.
I have to say I will definitely be buying these again, At 59p for 6 they are nearly half price of my normal brand, i loved the amount of jam and was impressed by the picture on the packaging and what you actually get inside, Well done LEE'S
Happy Eating!
Follow me on Twitter @fudgegeezer
All comments in this blog are of my own opinion.
These sweet treats are often overlooked I feel, but seem to still be loved by the older generation, lets give the humble jam teacake a boost!!.
I decided not to buy my regular brand so I give a fair review this is what I found!!
Id never heard or to be honest even looked for anything else except my normal brand but spotted Lee's Teacakes and thought Iv give them a review, the packaging is quite simple and plain, the teacake looks appealing and full of jam.
The teacakes smell nice and I decide to have a coffee to wash one or three down.
WOW!!! that has totally surprised me, now im no good with a knife and have just cut the teacake in half but it looks almost exactly the same as the picture on the packaging!! How often do you buy something these days and what you actually get looks nothing like the picture on the packaging?, I'm impressed and that's before iv eaten it..
The biscuit base is soft but has a little crunch to it, love the marshmallow all squidgy and soft and WOW that hit of jammy goodness mmmm im in heaven, I cant believe the amount of jam in these teacakes their AMAZING!!.
I have to say I will definitely be buying these again, At 59p for 6 they are nearly half price of my normal brand, i loved the amount of jam and was impressed by the picture on the packaging and what you actually get inside, Well done LEE'S
Happy Eating!
Follow me on Twitter @fudgegeezer
All comments in this blog are of my own opinion.
Sunday, 22 September 2013
85% COCOA DARK CHOCOLATE
Today i thought i would do a comparison test on 85% COCOA Dark Chocolate to see how a brand leader compared to a supermarket own brand?, After looking around i found 2 worthy contenders whose ingredients were nearly identical apart from a couple of things.
So how would Lindt a master chocolatier fayre against Tesco a supermarket own brand?.
I decided to judge on these things.
1, Packaging
2, Appearance of the chocolate
3, Aroma of the chocolate
4, Taste test
Lets start with Lindt
The packaging screams out quality, from its gold embossed writing to the way the light catches the piece of chocolate on the front highlighting the corner as if its waiting to be nibbled, The white background is simple yet elegant to complement and it does just the job!
The appearance of the chocolate is dark and rich with a subtle glimmer of sheen, the unmistakable Lindt name sitting gracefully in the top left hand corner, the squares have ridges running from corner to corner and the chocolate can easily be broken along these so you can taste a small piece if you so wish.
The aroma of the chocolate is unmistakable, you get that fine chocolaty sweet smell and then the undertones of the raw cocoa itself, It just wants you to eat It - Its begging you too.
The chocolate has a firm snap as i brake some off the corner and pop it in my mouth, the smooth yet unmistakable dark cocoa taste is the first thing you notice as the chocolate starts to melt slowly on your tongue, a sweet hint of vanilla in the background and then comes the drying of the pallet from the cocoa solids, Oh this is good chocolate!!
Now for Tesco lets see how a supermarket own brand compares!
The packaging is quite plain but funky i love the shimmer of the printed text and the colours are eyecatching,
Its unmistakable of whats inside from how big the text is, but when your sitting on a supermarket shelf with thousands of other products yours has to either be eyecatching or have big bold text to set it apart from everything else, The chocolate picture on the front is quite appealing and i like the fact Tesco has the traftic light system on the front, I also like the way the colours merge and how it explains to you where the cocoa is from, Just by looking at the colours you could imagine yourself sat on a lazy beach on the Ivory coast nibbling Its contents.
The First thing i notice about this chocolate is the sheen its positively glowing with a dark richness to it, you can probably see it in comparing the pictures, The colour of the chocolate is a little lighter for some reason, the squares are nicely formed and also have ridges which allow you to break a small piece off.
The aroma of the chocolate is unmistakably dark and rich, it has a raw aroma about it, Almost as though you could imagine the cocoa bulbs being broken open to reveal the beans inside, or smell the beans being roasted releasing that dark raw chocolaty smell.
The chocolate has a good snap as you bite into it and is smooth as it starts to melt on your tongue, there is a sweet hint of a flavoring which i think is vanilla, then you get the drying of the pallet from the raw cocoa which is unmistakable in dark chocolate, i have to say this is good chocolate and not what i would expect of an own brand.
Today has totally surprised me, the quality of the chocolate from both company's is excellent, i like the richness and smooth darkness of the Lindt, I also liked the dark rawness and smooth melting taste of the Tesco Chocolate.
So lets give some price comparisons Lindt 100g bar cost £1.85, Tesco 100g bar £1.00.
Lindt - Worth every penny, loved the packaging, the aroma, the taste would i buy it again yes for sure! i have seen other brands that cost a lot more.
Tesco - loved the colours on the packaging (very funky), liked the aroma and the taste would i buy again? at that price - Defiantly!
Happy Eating!
All comments in this blog are of my own oppinion
Saturday, 21 September 2013
What Does 10P Buy In 2013
Answer - Not a lot!
After scouring the shops on a mission to rekindle my school days, remembering running to the corner shop to buy my sweets for mid morning break, I must say I was disappointed on what i could find today, I suppose it was 30 odd years ago when my 10p bought what seemed like a mountain of candy treats.
Today i visited 5 run of the mill high street stores and this is the best of what i found for my 10p budget.
Refreshers have been round for what seems like an eternity and still seem to be going strong, I remember when these were 1p and a more boxy oblong chew, the packaging does say New Giant Refreshers, but im wondering if they have not just squeezed out the rollers to make the original chew bigger and longer, It certainly looks better value for the money which is properly why i chose it in the first place.
Drumstick lolly pops were also a must in my bag on my school days, these were also 1p and i remember stretching it off the stick with my teeth, I fear these days it will probably pull out a filling or something, the packaging does not seem to have changed in all those years and it still looks the same size as i remember, It just goes to show if something works then keep the style and packaging the same.
Haribo Star mix are a relatively new contender but on inspection of its contents i see things i recognize from my school days, (cola bottles, mini fried eggs, gummy rings, gummy bears) all were firm favorites for a mid morning treat.
I suppose although these confections have increased 90% in price in the 30 odd years since my school days, they are all still quite good value, and to say there only 10p they make for a perfect sweet treat.
Happy Eating!
After scouring the shops on a mission to rekindle my school days, remembering running to the corner shop to buy my sweets for mid morning break, I must say I was disappointed on what i could find today, I suppose it was 30 odd years ago when my 10p bought what seemed like a mountain of candy treats.
Today i visited 5 run of the mill high street stores and this is the best of what i found for my 10p budget.
Refreshers have been round for what seems like an eternity and still seem to be going strong, I remember when these were 1p and a more boxy oblong chew, the packaging does say New Giant Refreshers, but im wondering if they have not just squeezed out the rollers to make the original chew bigger and longer, It certainly looks better value for the money which is properly why i chose it in the first place.
Drumstick lolly pops were also a must in my bag on my school days, these were also 1p and i remember stretching it off the stick with my teeth, I fear these days it will probably pull out a filling or something, the packaging does not seem to have changed in all those years and it still looks the same size as i remember, It just goes to show if something works then keep the style and packaging the same.
Haribo Star mix are a relatively new contender but on inspection of its contents i see things i recognize from my school days, (cola bottles, mini fried eggs, gummy rings, gummy bears) all were firm favorites for a mid morning treat.
I suppose although these confections have increased 90% in price in the 30 odd years since my school days, they are all still quite good value, and to say there only 10p they make for a perfect sweet treat.
Happy Eating!
Friday, 20 September 2013
After a hectic day shopping im sat in the kitchen having a Nescafe AZERA http://www.nescafe.co.uk/product_details_en_co_uk.axcms?Id=561 got to say Nescafe are onto a winner with this one its the best so far iv tasted, it smells just like proper coffee and tastes like it too - well done Nescafe ill be buying this again
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