After a year of trepidation, a journalist has finally tackled one of the supermarket's most daunting challenges: finding the best wheat-based cracker. Faced with hundreds of potential candidates, the task was whittled down to a more manageable 19 distinct products for a rigorous blind taste test.
The Ultimate Cracker Showdown
The selection process was meticulous, focusing on crackers designed for dips, cheese, and platters. The final contenders were a mix of classic, water, and wafer crackers, all unflavoured and wheat-based. The test was conducted with six reviewers who scored each cracker on appearance, taste, and texture, with the latter two factors weighted most heavily.
When the crumbs settled, five key conclusions emerged. Jatz were predictably awesome, their imitators were also strong, water crackers were largely disappointing, the best cracker works both alone and with toppings, and wafer crackers left everyone slightly confused.
The Winners and Standouts
Arnott’s Jatz Original took the crown with an impressive score of 8.5 out of 10. Despite numerous lookalikes on the market, all reviewers identified the original, praising its iconic flavour and texture. The article posits that while they might not have the artisanal appeal some seek for a fancy platter, their universal popularity makes them a reliable winner.
For those seeking value, Damora Eton Original Cracker Biscuits from Aldi scored an 8/10 and were considered by some to be on par with or even better than Jatz. At a significantly lower price point, they offer a denser, crunchier alternative.
The Niche Players and The Failures
For a dinner party requiring cultural capital, La Panzanella Mini Artisan Crackers were recommended. Their jagged edges and uneven seasoning scored them a 6.5/10, making them a bespoke, if somewhat inconsistent, partner for strong cheeses and jams.
In the disappointing corner, water crackers scored an average of just 3.5 out of 10. They were universally panned for being boring and creating an unpleasantly dry experience in the mouth. Despite their low price, the test concluded that better options are available for the same cost.
Wafer crackers fell into a middle ground of mediocrity, with an average score of 6.5. All four tested varieties were deemed serviceable but boring, with a texture that became gluey after chewing and a perplexing, subtle inclusion of cheese powder.
Other notable mentions included Ritz, which proved divisive, and Woolworths Oven Baked Sea Salt Crackers, which were criticised for their overly soft texture and unusually large size.
