I'm very keen on butter.
I think my very first awareness of butter as a product, was in France as a young 10 year old boy; I noticed that not only did it have a totally different taste to my usual post-war butter (which came from NZ), but it was also a different colour; it was almost white. Even so, there was something very 'haunting' about its flavour.
This has now changed and French butter is very similar to standard English butter, and equally uninteresting.
In France I always used to buy the excellent 'Buerre d'Isigny', but I don't see it on offer as much as I used to. It was excellent.
Meanwhile, here in the UK I have become bored with the blandness of the Sainsbury's butter that I usually buy.
In a recent Sunday Times, there was a breakdown of the very best UK butters, and the one that came out on top was Sainsbury's (yes, them again) 'Taste the Difference', West Country Farmhouse Butter with Maldon Sea Salt. The difference in quality is noticeable at once. It's more expensive of course, but you get what you pay for! You could almost eat this stuff by the spoon-full.
I also always have a small pack of Garlic & Herb butter in the freezer. I'm lazy, I know!
People tend to think of butter as just plain 'Butter', but it's not. Look around and you'll find some really nice butters; it's worth having at least one really good one in the fridge at all times.
22 comments:
I agree Sainsbury's Taste the Difference is worth paying for as is their organic butter but I prefer the former. The truly awful stuff is the butter with rape seed oil added, Lurpak and similar, terrible stuff, probably fine for softening hard skin on ones feet but it ought never to be eaten.
Oh I agree completely. When I'm eating animal based I eat a lot of butter. The best butter has to be salted. It makes a huge difference to the taste. At the moment the best one is from Lidls. I can eat it big chunks of it, no bread or anything else needed. The strongest tasting butter is from the island of Corfu. I think it's from sheep's milk. It can taint my baking and the kids hate it. But, Greeks love it.
Lurpak is popular here and the most expensive. I agree with Adrian, it's the last brand I'd buy.
I am pleased to say that I have NEVER (knowingly) eaten margarine, or any other of the imitation butters.
I don't think I've ever tried Lurpak; isn't it Danish? We always had NZ butter as children, as I expect post-war UK butter was difficult to buy. But I would normally try to buy British.
I agree with local alien. Lidl has the best butter and believe me I've tried them
all! It's Deluxe, west country with seasalt. In a black packet. And, a £1 less than sainsbobs!
The next time I visit, I shall certainly buy some. Thanks for the tip!
Although I no longer eat butter I buy the local Manx butter for him indoors. It is made here in our island Creamery from local Manx milk and it seems to go down well with His Lordship.
On our farm my gran churned butter every week, for our own consumption and some to sell to her customers. She was proficient at making the pats with two wooden paddles and often shaped a little birds nest complete eggs as a treat for my younger brother, he ate it as if it was a cake. 70 years later the churn beautifully restored stands in the garden of my brother’s retirement bungalow. Today’s butter bears no resemblance to what we ate.
I only use butter when cooking..ie frying mushrooms, dotting onto smoked haddock etc. We use olive based " spread" for sandwiches...no idea if that is good for us or what else is in it but it tastes OK !
You have reminded me that when I was a child, I used to pester Mum for a taste of butter if she was using it.......she got fed up with me and once gave me a very large lump to eat......never pestered her again!!
We don’t eat much butter but agree with the comment above about the Lidl butter…but if you want the crème de la crème try Bungay butter, it is exceptional as is their Baron Bigod cheese
https://fenfarmdairy.co.uk/collections/butter?srsltid=AfmBOoo_umuxDop_3GOrB8KJTwsg7JeyRCp0mD9XJnFKz52NfMr5jaUK
They deliver.
Lidl butter is very good as is the Sainsbury's finest. Years ago we used to buy some delicious French butter cannot recall the name but haven't seen it around in a long time, it tasted of fresh cream. When my Grandparents had their farm and a pedigree herd of Jersey cows the butter my Gran made was heavenly. Regards Sue H
'Island Butter' sounds nice; do your Cows have tails?
I do remember churning butter on an Uncle's farm when I was little, and also making butter by mistake in my Kenwood mixer. I'd added some chocolate powder to the milk (as an experiment) and I ended-up with Butter, water, and a mess.
I've seen those Olive based spreads advertised, but never ventured! My youngest son used to buy himself 'treats', and eat so much he was sick. I don't think he ever tried it with butter.
Gosh their butter is expensive. I have just bought some Lidl farm butter (on recommendation above) and it was £2.29 for 250 gms. The Bungay butter is £7.95 for 200 gms. I'm sure it's delicious, but at that price.......
I've just bought a couple of packs of Lidl's best butter, and it looks very similar to the Sainsbury's one. I wonder if they both come from the same producer?
Just bought a couple of packs, but haven't tasted it yet!
I did say it was La crème de la crème - it is very good. You get what you pay for. A £5 bottle of red might be quite quaffable, a £15 even better but get a really good bottle for some serious money and you will remember it for years.
I hope you got the one in the black packet. That's the best!
We use mostly Irish butter, Kerrygold, and Aldi has another brand, much better than the USA standard. I spent a few days solo in Normandy, and I had lunch across the street from the creamery that makes 'Buerre d'Isigny', when I see there products I have to buy them, it is an emotional attachment tied to very wonderful memories of a few days exploring Normandy.
I also buy only butter. No margarine. That said, I have very likely never had the high quality butter being described. I wonder what the highest quality available in the US might be. I've had Kerry Gold and did not notice a large difference.
Cro, we love butter here also. I use butter to cook, to bake, and on almost everything. We do use the butter/olive oil spread on some things... and do like it. But having a British Emporium close by, I may see if they have any Lidl to try. Just bought some Lyle's Golden Syrup there to make British Flapjacks.
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