A recent blind taste test of supermarket canned peaches has delivered a sobering verdict for lovers of the tinned fruit, revealing that most bear little resemblance to the fresh produce they purport to represent.
The Great Peach Disappointment
Journalist Nicholas Jordan, alongside five friends, embarked on a culinary investigation, sampling 14 different supermarket products. The selection included peaches housed in both traditional tins and plastic jars, preserved in either syrup or fruit juice. Each was scored on aroma, texture, and taste.
The experience was a stark contrast to Jordan's fond childhood memories of syrupy, soft peaches. "Any positive memories I had about canned peaches were decimated," he reported. While it was no shock that tinned peaches don't taste intensely of peach, the greater surprise was that many had almost no discernible flavour at all.
An interesting side experiment revealed that peaches in plastic jars consistently scored slightly higher across all categories and exhibited a brighter, more appealing orange colour compared to their canned counterparts.
The Surprising Standout Winner
Amid a sea of mediocrity, one budget brand emerged as a clear champion for both flavour and value.
Black & Gold Peach Slices in Light Syrup
Scoring 7.5 out of 10, this product was the only one testers felt confident they could correctly identify as peach in a blind test. Priced at an "absurdly low" $2.60 for 825g, its unmistakable peachy aroma, look, and taste stood in stark contrast to competitors, which were compared to aeroplane juice and hose water. The reviewer stated he would happily use these to decorate a Christmas pavlova.
Gold Reef Peach Halves in Syrup
Also scoring 7.5/10, this Coles product won plaudits for its texture. The halves, described as looking like "polished bald heads" and "treasure chest" contents, had the bite and fibre of a real peach. However, their flavour was deemed basic and generic, reminiscent of a blend of fruits from a children's alphabet game. "Pretty tasty but actually nothing like a peach," one reviewer summarised.
The Also-Rans and The Failures
The test uncovered a range of underwhelming and bizarre flavour profiles across other major supermarket brands.
Woolworths Peach Slices in Syrup (7/10) received comments about tasting of "misc fruit juice flavour" and generic "fruit cup," but was deemed acceptable for adorning ice cream if the top brands were unavailable. Its fruit juice variants were criticised for blandness.
Royal Kerry Peach Slices in Syrup (6.5/10) divided opinion with its "toasty," "earthy" notes, with some reviewers detecting flavours of cereal or apricot, likely caused by high-heat processing.
SPC Peaches Sliced in Tasty Juice (6/10) offered commendable texture with bite and fibre, but its flavour was compared to "raw root vegetables" and a "zestless radish," with one reviewer simply noting "Zero taste."
The test also highlighted significant differences between tin and plastic jar versions of the same brand, such as with Coles Sweet and Juicy Australian Peach Slices. The canned version had a pronounced vegetal flavour, while the jarred version was unremarkably sweet and disconcertingly soft.
At the bottom of the rankings, Sweet Valley Peach Slices in Syrup (4.5/10) from Aldi tasted of peaches left in stale water, and Goulburn Valley Luscious Peaches in Juice (3.5/10) were damned with critiques of "very flat cardboard flavour," "tasteless then weird," and "texture for wisdom teeth removal," despite its packaging promising "the finest fruit."
The Final Verdict on Tinned Fruit
The comprehensive taste test concludes that when it comes to canned peaches, consumers should manage their expectations. Most products offer a sweet, generic fruit experience rather than the distinct flavour of a peach. For those seeking the closest approximation alongside the best value, the budget-friendly Black & Gold brand was the undeniable winner. However, the test ultimately suggests that if authentic peach flavour is the goal, the fresh fruit remains unchallenged.
