For many, the memory of tinned peaches is a sweet one, evoking childhood desserts and syrupy treats. But how do the supermarket staples of today measure up? In a rigorous blind taste test, journalist Nicholas Jordan and a panel of five friends put 14 different canned and jarred peach products from Australian supermarkets under the microscope, with surprising and often disappointing results.
The Great Peach Disappointment
Entering the test with fond recollections of peaches soft as panna cotta, Jordan found his positive memories were swiftly decimated. While it may be no shock that processed peaches don't taste exactly like their fresh counterparts, the panel was taken aback to discover that many samples tasted like nothing at all. The experience was likened to banana lollies or generic lemon sorbet – enjoyable in their own right, but a betrayal if you're seeking authentic fruit flavour.
The panel scored each product on aroma, texture, and taste. An interesting side experiment revealed that peaches sold in plastic jars consistently scored marginally better across all categories than their identical counterparts in tins, often displaying a brighter, more orange colour.
The Standout Winners: Flavour vs. Texture
Amidst a sea of mediocrity, two products rose to the top, each excelling in a different area.
The winner for best flavour and value was the Black & Gold Peach Slices in Light Syrup. Priced at an "absurdly low" $2.60 for 825g, it scored 7.5/10. This was the only product the panel felt confident they could correctly identify as peach in a blind test of mixed fruits. "It is unmistakably peachy in look, smell and taste," Jordan noted, declaring it worthy of adorning a Christmas pavlova.
The award for best texture went to Gold Reef Peach Halves in Syrup ($4.50, 825g), which also scored 7.5/10. Their appearance caused excitement, described as looking like treasure or polished bald heads. They possessed the bite and fibre of a fresh peach, though their flavour was deemed basic and generically fruity. "Pretty tasty but actually nothing like a peach," one reviewer concluded.
The Rest of the Bunch: From Cardboard to Cereal
The other tested products fell short in various ways. Woolworths' Peach Slices in Syrup (7/10, $2.60) was deemed a serviceable, generic option for topping ice cream if the top brands were unavailable.
Royal Kerry Peach Slices in Syrup (6.5/10, $9.99/kg) divided opinion with its "toasty" and "earthy" notes, with some reviewers detecting a flavour reminiscent of cereal or apricot, possibly due to high-heat processing.
SPC Peaches Sliced in Tasty Juice (6/10, $5.30) offered excellent texture with bite and fibre, but its flavour was criticised as resembling "raw root vegetables" or a "zestless radish."
Coles' Sweet and Juicy Australian Peach Slices in Juice (5.5/10, $3.70) suffered from a pronounced vegetal flavour in the tin, while the jar version was unremarkably sweet and overly soft.
Aldi's Sweet Valley Peach Slices in Syrup (4.5/10, $2.39) tasted faintly of peach, but like fruit left in stale water, and were too soft to be useful.
Bringing up the rear was Goulburn Valley Luscious Peaches in Juice (3.5/10, $5). Its grand claims of "finest fruit" and "delightfully juicy flavours" were met with reviewer comments like "very flat cardboard flavour," "tasteless then weird," and "texture for wisdom teeth removal."
The test delivered a clear verdict: while the humble tinned peach can still be a decent dessert component, consumers seeking real peach flavour on a budget should look for the surprisingly peachy and value-packed winner.
