A specialist jury evaluated eight brands of mayonnaise sold in supermarket chains in a blind test
Mayonnaise is a tradition on burgers, potato salads, sandwiches at children’s parties… Some love it and soon ask for an extra portion, please. Others hold back and prefer their snack lightly coated with a dressing made from egg yolks, vegetable oil and some acidic ingredients, such as vinegar or lemon.
Some prefer to affectionately call it sauce, which has a French origin attributed to the cook of the Duke of Richelieu during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763). After winning an important battle, he would order the kitchen manager to prepare a feast. In the absence of ingredients during the period of the conflict, the cook would have resorted to creativity to create a sauce that did not have the cream of the original version in the preparation.
Homemade mayonnaise is always the best option. But in the rush of everyday life, many people opt for the industrialized versions sold in supermarkets. Therefore, Paladar invited a panel of judges specialized in the matter to test eight of the predominant brands on the market shelves.
Experts and mayonnaise fanatics
In the tasting held at the Meats burger shop in Pinheiros, each of the brands was tested blind. The judges tasted mayonnaise pure and also in cream crackers. It was a quick test, with bursts of euphoria and disappointment. Characteristics such as colour, aroma, texture and, of course, flavour, were evaluated. The reference was almost always the search for a nostalgic flavor.
Chef Paula Labaki, of the Labaki Deli Shop, which specializes in pastrami sandwiches, is an avowed fan of mayonnaise: “There’s always been a history of mayonnaise in my family, making it the best version for potato salad” . For the chef, therefore, the reference to taste comes from childhood and it is from there that Paula evaluated the marks of our test.
Looking for a nostalgic taste
Compared to homemade mayonnaise, chef Thiago Koch, of Bullguer, has found only one brand with a taste similar to what he attributes to an affectionate memory of homemade mayonnaise. Elisa Fernandes, chef of the Clos Bar at Vin & Bistrô, thinks it is very important to evaluate the industrialized products that almost everyone consumes in the supermarket. “I particularly like a mayonnaise that has a not too light, neutral color, because my reference is the more yellowish homemade one”.
Fred Caffarena, chef at Make Hommus. Not war, a house defined as the first homuseria in Brazil, recalled an interesting fact during the Taste test. “In the past, Arab communities in Brazil used mayonnaise to make hummus,” he explains. “Mayonnaise is a very versatile product, which everyone knows very well, but despite this, there is a lot of difference between the brands available in supermarkets”.
Paulo Yoller, of Meats, believes that the brands differ a lot in terms of taste: “Some are very salty, some are more sweet, some are very sour…”.
During the test, the jurors assigned marks from 1 to 10 for each of the questions evaluated. Only one of the brands got 10 points due to consistency. The maximum score for flavor was a 9, as measured by only one of the judges. And there was one brand that scored 0 for taste…
You can see the complete ranking below.
THE BEST MAYONNAISE ON THE MARKET
FIRST PLACE – HEINZ
SECOND PLACE – HEMMER
THIRD PLACE – BY HELLMANN
The eight brands judged by the judges, listed in alphabetical order
ARISCO (BRL 7.74, the pot with 500g) Mayonnaise with a neutral taste, with little personality, not very acidic and a little greasy. The texture was described as too fluid and the matte look of the product was not pleasant.
HEINZ (R$16.19, 390g pack) The winning mayonnaise in the judges’ evaluation had a balanced flavour, with a delicate acidity, a sweet aroma, the right seasoning and a firm texture. Some have called mayonnaise very tasty and taste close to the homemade version.
HELLMANNS (R$ 10.91, the pot with 500g) The third place in the Paladar ranking is satisfied in terms of flavor, defined as soft and balanced in acidity, despite being far from the artisanal version of the condiment. Light and pleasant texture in the mouth.
HEMMER (R$ 10.40, 290 g pack) The runner-up in our product evaluation test was described as a sour-tasting, somewhat sweet mayonnaise with an interesting greasiness, very smooth texture and strong aroma.
JUNIOR (R$ 13.70, 380g squeeze pack) The taste of the mayonnaise was defined by the judges as unattractive, close to that of a salty and excessively acidic porridge. The texture was judged too soft.
LIZA (R$ 7.14, the pot with 450g) Mayonnaise with a slightly buttery taste, but not very interesting. Appearance a little dull compared to others. Good texture and light aftertaste in the mouth. Some judges found the taste of the product too sweet.
QUALITY (BRL 6.19, the pot with 500g) One of the judges found the presence of the flavor enhancer too obvious. A mayonnaise defined by a sweet flavor mixed with salty, almost without acidity, with a glossy and not very “natural” appearance.
I WANT (R$ 7.74, 495g pot) Mayonnaise with a delicate flavor, with a slight bitterness and a dressing classified as “strange” by one of the judges. The texture was rated as less consistent than the others. Product with very artificial aroma and bad taste.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
