Warburtons was established in 1870 with a small grocery shop in Bolton. Bread baking began in 1876. The history of Warburtons and how it got to where it is today can be found on the company's website 'www.warburtons.co.uk'. I found this website quite interesting, particularly the timeline styled history.

The loaf comes pre-sliced in commonly used 'bread bag' type packaging. The bag is mostly orange in colour (except for a transparent section to enable you to get a viewing of the product through the bag). There are orange slices and sultanas decorating the front and back of the bag, making its appearance quite attractive. The print on the front of the packaging declares "Fruit Loaf with orange bursting with fruitiness". There is a full ingredients list later in this review, but briefly the sultana content is 20%.

The manufacturer's statement on the back of the packaging says "We've made this fruit loaf even fruitier - two slices now gives you one of your five a day!" I think this is a good idea on Warburton's part. One fifth of a person's daily recommended fruit and veg consumption from two slices of this fruit loaf makes this eligible for the lunchbox, at least, in my opinion!

The ingredients list:

Wheat flour, Water, Sultanas (20%), Orange Flavoured Pieces (4%) (Concentrated Apple Purée, Concentrated Pear Juice, Concentrated Orange Juice, Wheat Fibre, Gelling Agent Pectin, Citric Acid, Vegetable Fat, Natural Flavouring Orange), Yeast, Vegetable Oil, Salt, Glazing Agent (Water, Potato Dextrin, Preservative E202, Stabiliser Guar Gum), Emulsifiers E471, E481, Gelling Agent E466, Soya Flour, Natural Flavouring, Preservative Calcium Propionate (Added To Inhibit Mould Growth), Flour Treatment Agent Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).

The allergy advice states that the product contains wheat, gluten and soya and that it was produced in a bakery which uses milk, sesame seeds and barley.

It retails for around £1.30. I bought my loaf in the local Tesco store.

**My opinion on taste, texture, and this fruit loaf generally**

I think the loaf has a pleasing, fruity smell on first opening the bag, and you get a good hint of orange.

The individual slices are about the same thickness as a 'thick sliced' loaf, but otherwise the size is a good deal smaller (as you would expect). There are a dozen (twelve) or so slices to each loaf which weighs 400 grams in total.

The sultanas through the loaf are quite moist and plump, and the orange flavour is also quite noticeable. Initially I found I liked the flavour of the sultana and orange combination, however, there is an aftertaste with me. This aftertaste is similar to orange pith/peel and stayed on my tongue for quite a while later. I can only describe it as similar to a cheaply made orange juice from concentrate, where you get the impression that yours came from the dregs at the end of the mixture, or the sludge that had settled at the bottom. The loaf itself is perhaps a little dry for my liking, but a small amount of low fat spread tends to correct this. Otherwise I like the texture of this loaf, and I think the sweetness is about right.

I found I preferred the slices toasted, and, with the orange flavouring, this loaf when toasted reminds me of toast and marmalade (but with less sugar and fewer calories). I have to say though, that even when this product was toasted, the pithy aftertaste of the orange is still there.

Calorie wise, the average slice contains about 85. The average slice contains approx 2.5g of protein, 16.5g of carbohydrate, and only 0.9g of fat (mostly unsaturated).

This fruit loaf is suitable for vegetarians, and also for freezing.

Overall, this product certainly tastes fruity, and I feel can make a useful addition to a family's lunch boxes/picnic lunches from time to time. I think it is a healthier choice, than say a biscuit, to share with a cuppa. With the addition of some vitamin B it could make a nice start of the day food, but there is no mention of vitamin B in the ingredients (yet). I don't think it's as good as the Raisin Loaf with cinnamon though.