Taste & Tell
Here's which supermarket's buttery croissants came tops in our taste test
We rated flaky pastries from five leading retailers
HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST
IT'S FREE AND FAIR!
We know that taste is a subjective thing and what’s good for one may not be for someone else. But it is interesting that, when a group of tasters come together, the results are usually consistent — there’s always a favourite and least-favoured item.
For this taste test, we invited a group of mothers to attend a blind-tasting of supermarket products in Johannesburg.
To ensure the taste test was free and fair, food expert Jenny Kaye was in the kitchen to supervise as products were removed from their packaging, numbered and, where necessary, cooked or reheated according to package instructions.
Auditor Jade Craig oversaw the entire process: she checked the products in the kitchen, sat in on the tasting, and collated the scores.
THE RESULTS
FIRST PLACE: PICK N PAY
French Butter Croissants
Price: R16.99 each
What our judges said:
- Alex: Loved the buttery taste and the soft fluffy inside.
- Sue: Very light and tasty. I would buy this one.
- Simone: Fresh tasting, it was perfectly flaky and tasted buttery. Good for the soul.
SECOND PLACE: CHECKERS
18 Anderson Croissants
Price: R39.99
What our judges said:
- Megan: Looks and tastes more like a bread dough.
- Joy: Looks appealing but is doughy inside.
- Stacy: Consistency is like bread.
THIRD PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET
Croissant
Price: R5.99 each
What our judges said:
- Simone: Like an Instagram model, looks pretty but has no substance.
- Alex: Looks like a mini loaf of bread and tastes like it too.
- Lorraine: Funny aftertaste.
FOURTH PLACE: WOOLWORTHS
All Butter Croissant
Price: R69.99 for 8
What our judges said:
- Misha: This is more of a roll than a croissant.
- Stacy: Dry, tastes like a roll.
- Joy: Looks machine-made, not rolled and folded.
FIFTH PLACE: SPAR
Plain Croissant
Price: R10.99 each
What our judges said:
- Shelley: Heavy, chewy with funny aftertaste.
- Megan: Horrible - oily, stale and hard.
- Simone: Salty and crispy but not in a good way and tastes as if made with old grease.