After wondering if it was actually worth forking out extra in the supermarket for berries, I tested the difference between standard and Taste the Difference Strawberries in Sainsbury’s
Have you ever wondered if the more expensive berries sold alongside ones at cheaper prices at the supermarkets are actually worth the cost? Same here. Curiosity got the better of me while shopping in Sainsbury’s and noticing the Taste the Difference British Strawberries were on a three for two offer for Nectar Card users in store.
With the offer proving popular, I only managed to get the Taste the Difference strawberries for £2.75, along with a pack of standard for £2.25 on a Nectar Price. Berries are a firm favourite in our house, with my two and a half year old little girl demanding them most meal times.
And with her being at a picky stage at the moment, fruit is doing the heavy lifting in the fruit and vegetable eating category at the moment.
Both punnets of strawberries has the same best before date and came from two different farms in the UK. There were, however, a number of differences between them.
While the regular strawberries were 1, the Taste the Difference variety was extra class, which represents flawless, premium produce. Class 1 represents good, standard supermarket-quality fruit.
According to the packaging of the Taste the Difference range, the berries are “hand selected, perfectly ripe, sweet and juicy”.
Can you taste the difference between standard and premium Sainsbury’s strawberries?
Upon looking at the berries there was not much difference between them, other than there being a few rogue leaves in the cheaper punnet.
But upon eating them, I could taste that there was a difference between the two. Although they were both high quality, juicy, sweet and refreshing, you could just tell that the Taste the Difference punnet were perfectly ripe and had more structure to them.
The cheaper punnet almost melted in your most because it was so soft, while the more expensive almost had a crunch as you took a bite.
How long will the Sainsbury’s berry offer last?
Sainsbury’s is cutting the cost of summer berries with a new Nectar Prices 3-for-2 mix and match across selected Taste the Difference berries and cherries.
From June 24 to July 14, shoppers can pick up a choice of three from selected British strawberries and raspberries, alongside blueberries and cherries, with the cheapest item free.
Richard Crampton, Sainsbury’s Commercial Director, Fresh and Convenience, said: “British berries are one of the real highlights of the season and this offer is a brilliant way for customers to enjoy exceptional taste at great value.
“We work closely with specialist growers, with many on a long-term basis, to bring customers fruit selected for sweetness, juiciness and flavour, with all our Taste the Difference strawberries and raspberries sourced from UK farms.
“Whether it’s strawberries and cream, a picnic or a simple dessert, this is all about helping customers make the most of great-tasting seasonal fruit for less.”
Make Sainsbury’s vibrant “swavoury” summer salad
As part of the new Nectar deal Sainsbury’s have released a special recipe incorporating summer berries. The “swavory” salad includes berries, salad leaves, and a sweet and tangy vinaigrette balanced out with creamy Greek Feta cheese.
Ingredients for salad : Taste the Difference berries (blueberries, strawberries or raspberries), 120g of crumbled Greek Feta, one bag of mixed salad leaves and a handful of Walnut Halves.
Ingredients for Vinagrette : Extra Virgin Olive Oil, cider vinegar, Canadian maple syrup, Dijon mustard, 1tsp of Echalion Shallots, finely chopped and a pinch of salt and cracked black pepper.
Sainsbury’s recommend keeping the vinaigrette separate and leaves in their bag until you’re ready to serve at home or on a picnic to keep everything fresh.
