A blind taste test of 14 canned peach products has revealed a surprising winner: Black & Gold Peach Slices in Light Syrup, costing just $2.60 for an 825g can at IGA. The test, conducted by five friends alongside a reviewer, assessed aroma, texture and taste, with plastic jarred peaches scoring marginally higher overall than tinned varieties.
The Black & Gold product was the only one the tasters found unmistakably peachy in look, smell and taste. One reviewer described it as worthy of topping a Christmas pavlova, adding that its 'absurdly low price' should serve as an indictment of other offerings. The test also highlighted that many canned peaches bore little resemblance to fresh fruit, with some tasting more like generic fruit juice or hose water.
Other brands fared less well. Gold Reef Peach Halves in Syrup, at $4.50 for 825g from Coles, were praised for their appearance but described as tasting 'like all the fruits mentioned in a kids’ alphabet game, blended together'. Woolworths’ peaches in syrup, at $2.60 for 825g, were deemed acceptable for ice-cream, but their fruit juice versions were criticised as bland. Royal Kerry Peach Slices in Syrup, at $9.99 for 1kg, were noted for a toasty aroma, but reviewers said they lacked peachy flavour.
The test also revealed that products in plastic jars consistently had brighter colours and scored better across all categories compared with their tinned counterparts. Reviewers noted difficulty distinguishing between syrup and fruit juice samples, though juice-packed peaches were generally criticised for being bland. The winner, Black & Gold, stood out for its authentic peach taste and low cost, making it the top recommendation for pavlovas or eating straight from the tin.
