The taste of tradition: Experts rate hot cross buns from five SA supermarkets

We asked a panel of experts to put big retailers' hot cross buns to the taste test and share the results

10 April 2022 - 00:02
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Meet the tasters, from left, Geoff Penny, Angus Ewing, Liziwe Matloha, Sinda Yona and Colin Hardy.
Meet the tasters, from left, Geoff Penny, Angus Ewing, Liziwe Matloha, Sinda Yona and Colin Hardy.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

Fruity and spicy hot cross buns are the sweet offerings and symbolic food of the Christian celebration of Easter, traditionally studded with raisins and lemon peel, containing a heady mix of spices and with a cross on the top. A new contender in the hot cross bun market, a chocolate version, is fast gaining in popularity.

DEFINITION OF A HOT CROSS BUN

A hot cross bun is a shiny golden brown bun with a prominent white cross on top. A slightly sweet, soft-eating bun fragrant with a blend of spices and filled with a mixture of sultanas, raisins, currants and candied lemon peel. 

MEET THE PANEL

Angus Ewing: Owner of the artisanal bakery Hadeda at Little Falls, Gauteng, which specialises in naturally leavened  sourdough bread.

Colin Hardy: Master baker and past chair of the board of the South African Chamber of Baking (SACB).

Geoff Penny: Recently retired chair of the board of the SACB.

Liziwe Matloha: Chef, cookery teacher and author of the recently published Dinner at Matloha’s.

Sindi Yona: aspiring cook and assistant to Liziwe Matola.

Traditional hot cross buns.
Traditional hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

TRADITIONAL HOT CROSS BUNS

The buns were served to the panel straight from the packet, at room temperature, without any packaging to identify from which store they came.

They were rated according to aroma, appearance, flavour and the quantity and variety of fruit.

Woolies hot cross buns.
Woolies hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

FIRST PLACE

Woolworths Traditional Hot Cross Buns

Price: R31.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: A wonderful balance of spice and sweetness. Full of fruit.
  • Colin: Good appearance with good shine on the bun. Enjoyed the citrus flavour.
  • Geoff: Nice glaze with good texture, moisture  and fruit content.
  • Liziwe: Delicious, enjoy the slightly chewy texture with sufficient fruit. Good aroma of spices.
  • Sindi: A perfect, well-balanced bun. Inviting aroma and appearance. Delicious.
Pick n Pay hot cross buns.
Pick n Pay hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

SECOND PLACE

Pick n Pay Traditional Hot Cross Buns

Price: R16.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: No spring in the bun, with a hint of flavour.
  • Colin: Good appearance, good citrus taste though slightly doughy.
  • Geoff: A balanced bun, palatable. Could be better glazed.
  • Liziwe: Quite thick cross, texture was a bit dense and stodgy.
  • Sindi: One needs tea to enjoy these buns as they are on the dry side.
Spar hot cross buns.
Spar hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

THIRD PLACE

SPAR Freshline Hot Cross Buns

Price: R24.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: A burst of spice on the first bite but not as fluffy as expected.
  • Colin: No shine, slight bitter taste and strong clove taste.
  • Geoff: A fair bun.
  • Liziwe: Missing the candied peel. A bit tougher and appearance can be better.
  • Sindi: Bun is quite chewy.
Food Lover's hot cross buns.
Food Lover's hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

FOURTH PLACE

Food Lover's Market Traditional Hot Cross Buns

Price: R19.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: Fluffy texture but underwhelming taste.
  • Colin: Slightly dry, very little fruit and no shine on top.
  • Geoff: Rather dry and no shine/glaze on top
  • Liziwe: Not enough fruit, really fluffy with beautiful air pockets
  • Sindi: Aroma lacking. Bun fluffy but could do with a bit of work.
Checkers hot cross buns.
Checkers hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffmann

FIFTH PLACE

Checkers Traditional Hot Cross Buns

Price: R19.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: Soggy bottom most unpleasant. Underbaked and flavourless.
  • Colin: Good appearance. Bottom of bun soggy, little fruit and poor spice flavour.
  • Geoff: Doughy, almost underbaked. Nice volume.
  • Liziwe: Extra glaze, which made it sticky. Beautiful colour but undercooked and lacking in flavour.
  • Sindi: Bun is soggy and sweet with too much glaze.
Chocolate hot cross buns.
Chocolate hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

CHOCOLATE HOT CROSS BUNS

All five supermarkets offer a non-traditional chocolate version of hot cross buns featuring chocolate, which replaces the fruit and spices. As per the traditional variety the chocolate buns were served to the panel at room temperature without any packaging to identify which store they came from.

They were rated according to aroma, appearance, flavour and the chocolate. The rating between the chocolate buns was very close.

Pick n Pay choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Pick n Pay choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

FIRST PLACE

Pick n Pay Bakers Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Price: R32.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: Loved the dark chocolate cross that celebrates the flavour.
  • Colin: Good appearance, good chocolate flavour. Very soft texture.
  • Geoff: Nice chocolate cross and good texture.
  • Liziwe: Beautiful colour, love the appearance and chocolate bits. Delicious.
  • Sindi: Appealing look and chocolate subtle on the palate.
Woolies choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Woolies choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

SECOND PLACE

Woolworths Six Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Price: R36.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: A wonderful chocolate bun.
  • Colin: Good appearance, poor distribution of chocolate.
  • Geoff: Texture a little dry. Chocolate pieces in bun will be popular with children.
  • Liziwe: No glaze but love the taste of chocolate in the bun. Good texture.
  • Sindi: You can taste the chocolate in the bun.
Food Lover's Market choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Food Lover's Market choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

THIRD PLACE

Food Lover’s Market Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

Price: R19.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: A fluffy bun with little flavour.
  • Colin: Nice appearance, cross the same colour as the bun. Chocolate bits had melted away.
  • Geoff: Good texture with good spread of chocolate.
  • Liziwe: Good appearance and flavour. Chocolate bits melted so not enough chocolate bits to bite.
  • Sindi: Bun nice and chocolatey.

Image: Christoph Hoffman

FOURTH PLACE

Checkers The Bakery Hot Cross Buns

Price: R19.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: A fluffy bun with bursts of chocolate.
  • Colin: Good appearance, good chocolate flavour, soft eating.
  • Geoff: Chocolate is a bit light with an aftertaste.
  • Liziwe: Spongy fluffy texture with enough chocolate bits.
  • Sindi: Fluffy dough, they went overboard with glaze, which made bottom soggy.
Spar Freshline choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Spar Freshline choc flavoured hot cross buns.
Image: Christoph Hoffman

FIFTH PLACE

Spar Freshline Chocolate Flavoured Hot Cross Buns 

Price: from R25.99 for six

What the experts said:

  • Angus: Underbaked.
  • Colin: Dull appearance, chocolate melted away. Poor flavour and very soft texture.
  • Geoff: Dull and rather bland. Underbaked.
  • Liziwe: Soggy, not baked enough. Don’t like texture,  it’s tough to eat.
  • Sindi: The look is a mystery, you can’t tell if it is chocolate until you dig in.

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