The Result
Ah you’re in for a surprise! There was only one tomato variety that was head and shoulders above the others, and yes, you guessed it, the Taste the Difference variety wins on flavour by a mile. It is balanced in acid, salt, and sweetness which is great, (but no big deal as these can be corrected), but the flavour of tomato was rich and ripe, instant and full bodied. None of the other varieties, including the most expensive could match it for tomato flavour.Â
It would be very easy to say go and buy the Taste the Difference range, but we took our test a little further…
We wanted to test if we could adjust the sweetness, acidity and salt ratios to improve each can of tomato. And if so, could they compete?
The answer is YES. A wholehearted yes. If you don’t want to spend £0.80+ on each can of tomatoes, there’s a simple trick to getting the most out of any brand. We found that whichever you buy, they can be improved with the addition of 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil, and approx. 1/2 tsp each of sugar and salt. Just adding these to your canned tomatoes will balance the flavours and bring out their best.
Of course, only adjust the flavours to suit your taste buds. We suggest increasing the salt and sugar by a 1/4 tsp each time before tasting.
Overall Winner for Flavour: Taste the Difference Italian Pomodorino Cherry Tomatoes
Overall Winner for Everyday Cooking: Sainsbury’s Basics Peeled Plum Tomatoes
Limahl’s Notes
If you’re looking to eat a very simple sauce where the tomatoes are the key flavour, you can’t go wrong with the impressive Taste the Difference variety. However, if you’re cooking a sauce with strong flavours like bacon or chorizo, onion, garlic, and herbs (and smothering it in cheese) it would be best to stick to the Basics range.Â
I think for everyday cooking the Basics range wins, but for special sauces or for a home made pizza, it might be worth paying the premium. The tip here is to add adjust with salt, sugar and olive oil until you find the perfect balance for you.
