A taste test comparing three Sainsbury's strawberry varieties found the standard budget punnet outperformed the more expensive organic and Taste the Difference options, scoring 9/10 versus 4/10 each.
Test Setup and Expectations
Senior Audience Writer Sophie Harris conducted the test after finding supermarket strawberries often disappointing. She purchased three 250g punnets: SO Organic (£3.50), Taste the Difference (£2.95), and standard Sainsbury's strawberries (£2.10). The organic and Taste the Difference varieties were expected to deliver superior flavour given their higher price.
Organic Strawberries Score 4/10
The SO Organic punnet cost £3.50 for 250g. Despite organic farming methods typically producing tastier fruit, the strawberries were described as "utterly flavourless." Some were already spoiled on the shelf, and the entire punnet spoiled within a day. Harris stated she wouldn't buy them again.
Taste the Difference Disappoints
The Taste the Difference punnet, priced at £2.95 for 250g (with a Nectar card offer reducing a 400g punnet to £3.50), also scored 4/10. While lasting longer in the fridge, the fruit was "watery and decidedly lacking in flavour." Sainsbury's website describes them as "hand-selected to be perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy," but Harris found them overpriced and underwhelming.
Budget Strawberries Triumph
The standard Sainsbury's strawberries, at £2.10 for 250g, were the most affordable. Despite an unremarkable appearance, they delivered "delightfully sweet and thoroughly satisfying" flavour. The texture was firm but not hard, avoiding a common flaw. Harris gave them a 9/10, noting she would ideally prefer larger size and longer shelf life but would eagerly repurchase.
Conclusion
The test highlighted that higher price does not guarantee better taste. The budget option outperformed premium varieties, challenging the assumption that more expensive supermarket ranges are superior.
