HOW WE CONDUCTED OUR TASTE TEST
IT'S FREE AND FAIR!
The Taste & Tell series is a monthly feature where the same or similar supermarket items are put to a blind taste test by a panel. (This one was made up of members of the SA Cake Decorator’s Guild.)
We bought pickled fish from four big retailers and asked our tasters to score the products according to various criteria including whether or not they'd buy them.
It's a South African tradition to enjoy hot cross buns with pickled fish on Good Friday.
— Fast fact
To ensure the tasting was fair, the products were stripped of their packaging and numbered under the watchful eye of food expert Jenny Kay before being served to the panel.
Auditor Mellicent Mashell oversaw the process and collated the scores.
It's important to remember that taste is subjective and what is good for one may not be good for another.
THE RESULTS
FIRST PLACE: WOOLWORTHS
Pickled Fish
Price: R79.99 for 500g
What the judges said:
- Jackie: Smells nice, tastes tremendous.
- Debbie: Excellent, especially good and beautifully balanced flavour.
- Franco: Nice bite-sized pieces, good flavour. Good proportion of onion to fish sauce.
SECOND PLACE: PICK N PAY
Pickled Fish
Price: R59.99 for 500g/R100 for 2 tubs
What the judges said:
- Mbone: Batter is too thick and pieces of fish large.
- Debbie: Vinegary and spices not well balanced. Fish in thick batter.
- Deon: Spices a bit overpowering but good colour and I liked the big pieces.
THIRD PLACE: CHECKERS
From the Sea Pickled Fish
Price: R59.99 for 500g
What the judges said:
- Mbone: Tastes a bit dull and fish rather tough and underspiced.
- Deon: Very compact fish but overall it looks traditional.
- Pam: A strong taste of vinegar, though well spiced.
FOURTH PLACE: FOOD LOVER'S MARKET
Pickled Fish
Price: R69.99 for 500g
What the judges said:
- Sue: Fish appeared to be compressed chunks of fish.
- Bernice: Fish is dry with big blobs of turmeric in the sauce.
- Franco: Very large pieces and some of the batter is falling off. This is processed compacted fish.
