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North Wales Live
18-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
I tried seven brands of salted butter and the difference was a major surprise
In my opinion, there's nothing quite like the simple joy of bread and butter. So, when I was given the opportunity to try seven different types of salted butter, I leapt at the chance. Little did I know that this seemingly simple taste test would push me to the limits of human endurance, writes Vita Molyneux. Until you've tasted seven distinct butters in a mere 30 minutes, you can't truly understand what the body is capable of. By mid way, I was struggling. Maybe I was being too generous with my spreading, or perhaps it was the 23-degree heat in my bedroom, but I did not feel great. I stared down at three more butters feeling my arteries beginning to clog. My head was spinning and I needed a drink of water and a lie down. I needed a piece of fresh fruit, I needed a hug. Instead I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this is my job and I'm extremely lucky to have it, and cracked on. By the end, I believe I had transcended. But the results were in and I have declared a winner - and a loser. All the butters were left out on my counter for an hour to achieve the perfect spreadability, reports the Express. The seven salted butters I sampled were: All Things Butter, Lurpak Slightly Salted, Kerrygold, Anchor, Tesco own brand, Aldi Cowbelle and Lidl Dairy Manor. Lurpak This is a classic. It's my usual purchase, but I must confess, I rarely indulge in just bread and butter, so I most often use it in cooking. I had high expectations but, to be honest, Lurpak left me somewhat disappointed. It tasted a bit oilier than I anticipated, and the salt was more subtle than I prefer. However, the texture and spreadability were good. Overall, Lurpak scores OK. Rating: 6/10. All Things Butter The colour of this was a stunning rich yellow. When I sliced off the piece I was going to taste I was taken aback by its crumbly texture. However, after softening, the butter was rich, creamy and indulgent with the perfect level of salt. This butter tasted like luxury, and I loved it! Rating: 9/10. Aldi Cowbelle This one had the best spreadability so far - it went on the bread perfectly and was the saltiest of the bunch. There was an aftertaste of the sea, but I like the sea, so that's fine. It had a rich, golden colour, and almost had a hint of garlic about it (although that could be the chopping board). Really lovely. Rating: 8/10. Kerrygold The spreadability was a little poor, but it didn't tear the bread, which is always a good sign. It had the most gorgeous colour of all the butters, a stunning yellowish gold - I suppose it's in the name. However, it wasn't very salty at all, and the texture was pretty nondescript. Overall, OK. Rating: 6/10. Lidl Dairy Manor This butter was nearly white, and quite salty, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It had top-notch spreadability and I favour the saltier ones, so this gets an extra point. Rating: 7/10. Tesco Tesco's own brand was a real let down. It was overly oily and lacked flavour with no real salty tang. Despite its spreadability and appealing colour, I can only award Tesco a modest score. Rating: 4/10. Anchor The final hurdle! The end was in sight. This butter had a pleasing texture and was rich and creamy, although not as salty as I might prefer - instead it had that peculiar garlic undertone like the Aldi butter. But again, that could very well have been my wooden chopping board. It was satisfactory, but nothing exceptional, so it receives an in-between score. Rating: 5/10. Final thoughts All Things Butter clinched the title for the best butter, and sadly, Tesco's own brand needs to be cast aside. But overwhelmingly, I learned a crucial lesson - too much of a good thing is indeed a real phenomenon. The next time I'm offered such a decadent taste test, I am calling for reinforcements. sent twice daily to your inbox Look for places near you
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I was urged to avoid a holiday to this popular Italian city - but I went anyway'
Planning an Italian getaway is always exciting, especially if you want to go somewhere very few people want to venture. That was the task Mirror Travel Writer Vita Molyneux and her brother faced when they were preparing to jet off. "We were keen to explore somewhere off the beaten track," she said. "We'd already experienced the coastal charm of Moneglia in Genoa – a tranquil village known for its warm hospitality and close proximity to the renowned Cinque Terre." She added: "We'd also taken in the stunning Tuscan cities of Florence and Siena, marvelling at their magnificent cathedrals and rich culture." With those places ticked off their bucket list, one place was left for them to conquer – and it was one they found, to their astonishment, many people had a dim view of. "We set our sights on Naples, the southern Italian city famed for its pizza, vibrant nightlife and bustling cobbled streets," Vita recalled. "With flights booked, accommodation sorted and anticipation mounting, we encountered an unexpected response. Almost everyone we told about our plans reacted with 'Naples? Why would you go to Naples?'" She added: "The city was painted as 'dodgy', 'dangerous' and 'frightening'. Shaken, I turned to social media and found a plethora of TikTok videos warning against visiting Naples, with comments ranging from it giving off 'kidnapping vibes' to claims it was 'the most dangerous city in the world '." To say Vita was alarmed would be putting it mildly, but this served as a stark reminder not to believe everything you read online, reports the Express. Their journey got off to a bumpy start, as the trek from the airport to their accommodation in the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) was somewhat tense. Naples, Vita found, was unlike any other Italian city she had visited. "Admittedly, it's a bit rough around the edges, with potholed roads and graffiti-laden walls. However, there was already something endearing about it," she wrote. "Our flight was delayed, and we didn't touch down in Naples until around 1am. Our Airbnb host, showcasing the incredible kindness of the Neapolitan people, personally drove to the airport to pick us up despite the late hour. "On our first day, we ventured out to explore our neighbourhood, the Quartieri Spagnoli. I instantly fell for its labyrinthine maze of cobbled streets, markets, shop fronts and homes all festooned with bunting." Vita and her brother could not have arrived at Naples at a better time – the local football team Napoli had just clinched their first Serie A title in 33 years before they arrived. She said: "Images of the late Diego Maradona, Napoli's Argentine legend who is almost worshipped as a saint here, were plastered on every other wall and hung above the streets. The atmosphere was electric and utterly intoxicating. "Simply strolling through the city was an adventure. Mopeds whizzed past on the narrow streets, and there were people everywhere – it was hard to know where to look. "We chose to hike up to Castel Sant'Elmo, perched high above the city. Our journey took us past beautiful villas and layers of pastel-coloured apartments." In the spring heat, climbing the steep stairs to the castle was a challenge, but the breathtaking view from the top made it all worthwhile for the pair. "This medieval fortress, dating back to 1275, served as an autonomous military outpost," Vita said. "Our exploration of the castle and its walls provided breathtaking views over the Bay of Naples and towards Mount Vesuvius, which ominously towers over Naples from the south." A highlight of Vita's trip was Naples' proximity to the ancient site of Pompeii – somewhere she had yearned to visit since she was a child. "The ancient village, obliterated by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, is one of the most well-preserved historical sites globally, boasting everything from homes to law courts to vineyards for visitors to explore," she added. "Just a half-hour train ride away, we reached the site early in the morning, with the sun already blazing overhead. We decided against a guided tour, opting instead for audio guides that allowed us to explore at our own pace. "After consulting with a guide on site, he marked our maps, highlighting areas he thought we'd find most intriguing. Given Pompeii's vastness, it's nearly impossible to see everything in a single day. Taking our time, we meandered through the ancient village, absorbing the stories of its former inhabitants." After a full day of exploration, Vita and her brother returned to the city for some evening refreshments and a bite to eat. She was "completely blown away by the nightlife." Vita remarked: "Naples' nightlife is second to none – kicking off with an Aperol spritz in one of the city's numerous bars, watching life pass by, before moving on to taste some truly amazing Neapolitan pizza, hailed as the world's best by many. "We spent a thrilling three days in Naples, and every moment was a delight. Sure, it's bustling and crossing the road requires bravery and a certain level of recklessness, but the city is teeming with life. "The city buzzes with activity, the views are breathtaking, and the locals are fantastic." What advice would Vita give to anyone hesitant about visiting this southern Italian gem? "Don't trust everything you read online, as I discovered. But if you're reading this and pondering whether to visit Naples – take my word for it, you should."
