A Loaf with a Difference (Warburton's Seeded Batch Loaf)

Member Name: ian22

Product:	Warburton's Seeded Batch Loaf
Date:	22/04/07 (160 review reads)
Rating:

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It's funny really....As a child, I couldn't stand brown bread and only ate white. But as I've got older, the opposite is true. Nowadays, I eat practically only wholemeal bread, although I am still just as finnicky about which brands I will eat. Warburtons is one of my favourite makes and their Seeded Batch loaf is particularly tasty. However, the strange thing about this loaf is that it is actually classed as a white bread, even though it looks brown. It is what you might call a hybrid loaf: a cross between white and brown bread. Confused? Well let me explain....

Warburtons Seeded Batch Loaf looks like a wholemeal bread because it contains a special mix of five seeds - namely, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, linseed, millet and poppy seeds. These are what give it a slightly brown appearance. According to the packaging, these seeds constitute 13% of the whole loaf, so represent quite a sizeable proportion. I shan't spend unnecessary time describing the packaging as the photo above shows you exactly what to look out for. All I will say is that the loaf is available in two sizes, 400g and 800g, and costs 78p and £1.34 respectively.

Typically, whenever I buy bread, I buy it already sliced, as this saves time and prevents getting crumbs everywhere. The great thing about Warburtons Seeded Batch Loaf is that it not only comes already sliced, but the slices themselves are thick and wholesome-looking. As I said at the beginning, the bread has a slightly brown tinge to it and is covered in seeds. There appear to be a lot of sesame seeds around the crusts and more smaller seeds embedded within the actual loaf itself. The bread is soft and therefore perfect for sandwiches. It also has a unique flavour which I like very much.

It has a malty taste, as you would expect from any bread, but is slightly saltier than most, due to the flavours created by the various seeds. The flavour of the poppy and sesame seeds in particular make the bread tasty and very moreish. It also has a lighter texture than most other breads and retains its freshness for longer. I tend to use it quite a lot for making sandwiches, but it is also ideal for toasting. Some people may think that the seeds are likely to get stuck in your teeth, but I have not encountered this problem. Admittedly, some of the seeds are a bit crunchy, but, in my opionion, this adds to the overall texture of the bread.

There are 275 calories in 100g of this bread, which is the equivalent of 3 and a half slices. Carbohydrate levels per 100g work out at 38.8g, fat 8.4g, fibre 6.0g and salt 1.23g. It is suitable for vegetarians, but is obviously not suitable for those with allergies to wheat gluten, sesame seeds, barley, soya or milk products, as all of these ingredients are used.

The advice on storage is the same as for any other bread. The loaf is best stored in a cool, dry place, but should not ideally be refrigerated. It is, however, suitable for home freezing, as long as this takes place on the day of purchase.

In summary, I recommend Warburtons Seeded Batch Loaf to anyone who likes their bread to have a great flavour and texture. It has to be one of the finest loaves around, and who would surely argue with a company like Warburtons, who have been baking bread since 1876, anyway...?! I shall finish my review with a witty remark made by Jonathan Warburton (see packaging):

"Can you believe it, my wife bought a competitor's loaf, so to avoid this calamity happening again, we developed this great tasting Seeded Batch which she now claims is her idea!"

It made me smile! ;)

Summary: NA