At Christmas time - Truffle sauce and fine salami: how good are gourmet products from discount stores?
We like to treat ourselves to something special at Christmas. That's why the discount supermarkets promote their gourmet and premium products at this time of year: Truffle cream sauce, carpaccio, beef cheeks in red wine or prawns, beautifully packaged. The price is clearly different from the usual discount store own brands, it is higher, but does that make the products better?
Pay attention to the origin of fish and meat products
That depends. Manufacturers can charge higher prices for sausage and cheese, for example, if the products have been matured for longer. Ultimately, personal taste determines whether you want to pay the extra price. With meat and fish products, you should pay particular attention to the origin. Does the pig come from species-appropriate husbandry? Are the prawns from aquaculture or wild-caught? Is there a seal that indicates sustainable fishing? Do your research before you buy a supposedly luxury product - after all, your conscience also plays a role.
You should generally be careful with products containing truffles. Often the amount of the expensive noble mushroom is only small and the product has been enhanced with truffle oil, which is obtained from synthetic flavorings. Genuine truffle aroma, which comes from fresh truffles, is subtle and complex, while truffle oil often produces an exaggerated, less authentic taste. This can result in dishes having an artificial rather than subtle flavor.
The quality of gourmet products from discounters does not necessarily surpass that of private labels. Both product lines often come from the same production facility and differ only slightly. It is therefore worth comparing the products before opting for the more expensive product.
What is luxury?
On the other hand, inexpensive gourmet products in discount stores have a right to exist because they make high-quality food accessible to a broader mass of people who might not otherwise be able to try such products. They democratize enjoyment.
But are truffle cream sauce, ready-made carpaccio and frozen prawns really a luxury? For me, for example, a diverse selection of pumpkins in different colors and shapes is much more valuable because I know exactly who grew my food. When I spend time roasting the pumpkin in the oven and the aroma of vegetables and Christmas spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves fills the whole apartment. Then I know: I'm going to treat myself today!
Read also:
- Chocolate Strawberries: Berry Blizzard
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- Chicken Wings: Breathalyzer
- fajitas: basic bird
- During Christmas time, we often find ourselves drawn to the gourmet offerings at our local discount supermarket, such as premium sausages or truffle-infused cheese.
- Despite the higher price tag, the quality of these products is often dependent on factors like maturation time or origin, making it a personal decision whether to splurge or not.
- When it comes to truffle-containing products, be wary as the amount of actual truffle may be minimal, with artificial truffle oil often used as a substitute for the authentic, subtle aroma found in fresh truffles.
- On occasion, you may find delightful gourmet items at discount stores, like exceptional Christmas cheeses, that not only tantalize your taste buds but also make luxury food more accessible to a wider audience.
Source: www.stern.de
