Our resident tester sampled 10 supermarket chutneys ahead of Christmas, finding most to be of high quality. Chutney, a heritage recipe largely unchanged for a century, typically contains only fruit, sugar, vinegar and sometimes pectin, with sugar acting as the main preservative. Colourings and preservatives are usually unnecessary and omitted.
Tracklements stood out for its B Corp status and clear sustainability commitments, while most products lacked provenance and sustainability information. The tasting included a range of flavours, from apple-forward chutneys to spiced fruit blends, all suitable for pairing with meats, cheese and festive dishes.
Top picks included a rich, orange-brown chutney with warm spices, ideal with roast pork and strong cheese; a sweet and tangy South African chutney with peaches and apricots, though containing artificial colouring E150d; and a homemade-style chutney with bramley apples, muscovado sugar and cider brandy, described as 'simple, well-crafted and excellent'.
Other notable options featured caramelised red onions with Black Sheep ale, complex onion and apple chutney with balsamic vinegar, and a well-balanced spiced chutney with stem ginger and orange zest. A sweet, sticky red onion chutney and a jelly-textured chilli and ginger chutney also scored highly, as did a fruit-packed blend with blackcurrants, cherries and cranberries.
One chutney with big fruit pieces and treacle was noted for having slightly al dente fruit, but was still considered decent value. Overall, the tasting highlighted excellent value across the board, with many products offering high fruit content and minimal processing.
