Thomasina Miers, a home baker of many years, has put supermarket sourdoughs to the test, rating them on flavour, texture, and provenance. She found that while many loaves impressed, none declared their salt content on packaging, which she notes significantly impacts taste. Miers also observed that only Wildfarmed mentioned pesticide and herbicide use, a key concern for her when buying bread.
The top-rated loaf was Jason's Sourdough, available at Ocado and Tesco for £2 per 450g. Miers praised its 'great flavour, delicate tang' and crumb that stayed fresh for several days, making it excellent for breadcrumbs and bruschetta. She described it as 'by far the best-looking of the bunch' and 'very good quality for the price'.
Other notable entries included a bloomer with a nice tangy flavour but dense crumb, and a loaf made from a 12-year-old starter with good texture and airy holes. A San Francisco-style loaf with a 30-year-old starter had a faint tang and open crumb. However, some loaves disappointed, including one with a dense crumb and glossy egg wash that Miers felt was unlike typical sourdough.
Overall, Miers was pleasantly surprised by the quality of several supermarket sourdoughs, noting that supermarkets are becoming more engaged in making better bread. She highlighted the importance of provenance and the absence of toxic sprays, which she hopes will become more transparent on packaging.
