Tomato Ketchup Taste Test.

Woolies, Pick n Pay, Heinz and Farmgirl ketchup.

If we didn’t have it we’d have to invent it.

Ketchup has been around for over 200 years. Made from tomatoes, vinegar, corn syrup, salt, sugar and spices it is as indispensable to a modern kitchen as  butter or milk.

We tried all the big brands that are widely available in South African supermarkets.

I am listing them as follows, with sizes and prices. I am also listing the ratings our Taste Buddies gave them.

The tastings were done blind, meaning that the Tasters had no idea if they were sampling Farmgirl or All Gold.  Unsurprisingly, there were huge variances in the quality of the ketchups and the responses our tasters had to them. 

Woolworths. 575 ml, R.16.95. Sweet, fruity.

Pick n Pay. 750ml, R9.99. Sweet and tangy – splash of Worcester Sauce flavour.

Heinz. 750ml, R10.99. Red fruity ketchup with a great consistency.

Farmgirl. 750ml, R9.99. Vile, acidic, disgusting, paint stripper.

All Gold, Whole Earth and Woolworth Organic ketchup.

All Gold. 750ml.R11.59. Sour, acidic and vinegary.

Whole Earth Organic. 340ml. R36.00. Sour and vinegary, little sweetness.

Woolworths Organic. 680ml. R24.95. Sweet and sour.

Neck and neck on taste were Heinz and Woolworths Organic. They both had the right balance of sweetness with spice flavours mingling with a tart bitter note.

However Heinz had the nose and we declare them the winners. At R10.99 it wins on value for money and taste, two key considerations.

It’s my personal favourite as it has the most ‘gloopy’ quality. Part of the ritual of getting it out of the bottle is to turn it upside down and slap on the base.

Tasty chips and ketchup.

The ketchup has just that right consistency and taste. 

Just what you’d want to plunge a chip into.