Oh dear... Tesco Value Tomato Ketchup (Tesco Value Tomato Ketchup)

Member Name: MEL0611

Product:	Tesco Value Tomato Ketchup
Date:	03/10/09 (84 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap in price

Disadvantages: The acidic taste, a strange over-powering of flavours

When it comes to eating my tea I always end up with a lot of sauces accompanying it. This can range from anything from mayonnaise, barbeque sauce to tomato ketchup. I don't think there are many people who don't like a bit of tomato ketchup with their chips (Unless you're my dad that is who gets in a panic if it ends up on his plate!)

I have always been a big fan of the Heinz brand of tomato ketchup but lately I have watched the price go up and up, the 570g bottle currently retailing in Tesco for the price of £2.00. I decided to try the Tesco Value tomato ketchup, the 570g bottle being priced at a fantastic 38p, after all, Ketchup is ketchup and surely they could not be that much difference in taste, a tomato is a tomato and I was only paying for fancy packaging and a brand name right????

The Tesco Value product comes in a glass bottle, I am not a fan of this design as I always end up with a massive helping of ketchup on my plate but it is certainly something I could live with. When I have a product that comes in a glass bottle I just leave it in the cupboard balancing upside down so at least it is ready to pour when it comes to the end of the products life!

The design on the Tesco value bottle is really simple. As it is made from glass you can clearly see the ketchup through it and it has a paper label wrapped around the lower part of the bottle, similar in design to other Tesco value products, which on the front gives you nutritional information whilst the side of the label gives you ingredient listings, and the other side has storage information.

The lid of the ketchup is a sealed screw top that when you first open the product 'pops' to break the seal as the ketchup is protected in the airtight glass bottle. I always keep my bottle of ketchup in the kitchen cupboard and I have never had a problem with storage of it.

As I previously stated the ketchup is not in the easiest of bottles with regard to dispensing it. I always give it a shake first (just make sure the lid is on tight, you don't want a nasty accident with your ketchup like my sister in law!!!) And then pour onto your plate. You can smell the ketchup as you are pouring it, a tomato scent wafting up. It is then time for the all important taste test.

I have to say I was left disappointed with the Value Tomato Ketchup. I have used value products in the past before and found them to be as good as any other branded product but this was slightly different. It had a very acidic taste to it. When I dipped my chips into the ketchup it almost left my eyes watering as the flavouring was just that bit to strong for me. When I looked at the ingredient listings I saw that tomato puree, vinegar, spice extracts and onion powder had been used to create this ketchup and in my opinion it was almost a 'clash' of flavours. One was almost over powering the other in the acidic test!

I did try and preserver with the ketchup, I am not one for waste and my partner and I had it again with a jacket potato but I was still left with a bitter taste in my mouth. I never did finish the rest of the bottle and had to throw it away. You are better with sticking with some things that you know!

A few pieces of nutritional information on the product are s follows: (Per serving)

Calories ~ 20
Sugar ~ 3.6g
Salt ~ 0.1g
Fat ~ 1% trace

In summary, I will not be recommending this product. It is very acidic and left me feeling very disappointed. I went from a well-known brand to a value option and unfortunately I was let down. Next time I might try a shops own brand and go for the middle of the road option.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Not again I am afraid