The controversial American butter that divided shoppers when it landed on New Zealand shelves earlier this month was not the worst performer in a blind taste test.
Consumer NZ purchased 12 blocks of salted butter and had a panel score them on taste, appearance and texture, according to results published by the magazine last week.
US import Burtfield's and Co, which had attracted attention for its pale white colour and low price, scored 2.8 out of 5 in Consumer's tests.
Tasters described it as "very oily" and "a bit chemically", with one noting it was "white as snow". Others were more generous, with one panellist saying it tasted "normal".
But one locally-made block fared worse.
Market Kitchen butter, sold at The Warehouse for $1.50 per 100g, came last with 2.5 out of 5. Some tasters picked up on what Consumer NZ claimed to be a "strange aftertaste", with one saying it "hits you in the back of the throat".
The test also delivered a blow to some premium brands.
Lewis Road Creamery, the second most expensive butter tested, finished third from the bottom with a score of 3/5. Several tasters compared it to margarine.
Consumer NZ spokesperson Vanessa Pratley said earlier this month that the pricier options had not performed the way shoppers might expect.
European brand Lurpak and Woolworths organic label Macro both scored 3.5/5 despite being the two most expensive butters tested at $3.40 per 100g each.
At the other end, the top-scoring butter had been Westgold, a West Coast-made brand that scored 4.2/5. Tasters called it "rich, salty and decadent".
Westland Milk Products chief executive Alex Turnbull said in a statement released today that the result filled the company with pride.
"Given our location and the knowledge and skills of our butter team, we know we have a lot going for us, but this result still fills us with pride," he said.
Budget picks Alpine and Pams both scored 4/5 and cost $1.70 and $1.66 per 100g, respectively. Consumer NZ noted Pams was one of the cheapest blocks tested, with one taster summing it up as "no drama".
The American import, Burtfield's and Co, remained the cheapest in the test at $0.80 per 100g. Other brands ranked by Consumer included Mainland, which scored 3.7/5, Anchor at 3.3/5, Rolling Meadow at 3.4/5 and Woolworths' own-brand block at 3.5/5.
Consumer NZ said it had bought the blocks from supermarkets in Wellington, tasting them at room temperature with fresh bread. It excluded unsalted, flavoured and dairy-free options, as well as butter sold in containers.
SHARE ME