Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Videos
    • Budget recipes
    • South African recipes
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Beef recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Pork recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • Cocktails
    • Non-alcoholic drinks
  • Features
    • Food news
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Food24 Taste Tests
    • Kitchen Design and Appliances
    • Drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Coffee
    • Conscious Cooking
    • In Season
      • Spring
  • Cooking guides
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • World Cup Weekend Guide
  • More
    • Win
    • Newsletters
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Videos
    • Budget recipes
    • South African recipes
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Beef recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Pork recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • Cocktails
    • Non-alcoholic drinks
  • Features
    • Food news
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Food24 Taste Tests
    • Kitchen Design and Appliances
    • Drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Coffee
    • Conscious Cooking
    • In Season
      • Spring
  • Cooking guides
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • World Cup Weekend Guide
  • More
    • Win
    • Newsletters
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

Tinned chakalaka: how well-known brands compare to retail versions

Food24

We taste tested eight different brands of mildly spiced tinned chakalaka to determine how well-known brands compare to retail versions of chakalaka.

Bianca Jones by Bianca Jones
February 17, 2023
in Food24 taste tests
0
chakalaka-taste-test
0
SHARES
10.2k
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

Whether you make your own or opt for the ultimate convenience and buy it tinned, only one thing is for sure, we’ve never come across braaivleis or comfort carbs that don’t benefit from being served with good old chakalaka!

In South Africa, the popular vegetable-based relish is widely available in many a tinned version, with different brands offering an assortment of varying takes on the traditionally made relish.

From sweet to ultra-tangy, to mildly spiced or spicy and extra hot, to loaded with beans or corn, or made simply with a tomato-based sauce, cabbage, carrots, peppers and onions, the taste of chakalaka is satisfyingly unique and purely nostalgic!

We looked at a few South African retail brands and their renditions of tinned chakalaka to see how they compare to popular well-known brands’ tinned versions of chakalaka.chakalaka-taste-test

Eight different brands of chakalaka were blind tasted and rated for the purpose of this taste test. Only mildly spiced tinned chakalakas without any additions of beans or corn were tasted. Each sample of chakalaka was served alongside plain white bread, for tasting purposes.

The results were extremely close, with mere decimals dividing first, second and third places. Each individual taster’s taste preferences came heavily into play, as everyone has a specific way they like their chakalaka!

Results:

Pick n Pay Chakalaka Mild & Spicy 4.5/5

Coming in tops, admittedly a rather unexpected wildcard, was Pick n Pay’s tinned chakalaka. Tasters loved that it was indeed mildly spiced, well balanced from a flavour perspective and had a good amount of veggies – all round, just what you’d expect from a good chakalaka!

Samplers said things like, “Packed with the right amount of heat and veggies AND flavour. Love it!” and “Nicely spiced, good flavour to it. Warm, spicy bite at the end.”

Costs R21.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

KOO Chakalaka Mild & Spicy 4/5

Tasters had very mixed opinions when it came to this sample, but despite the divided tasting team’s opinions, KOO still managed to clench the second spot with mere decimals separating the two samples!

While some tasters loved the sample, others did not. Tasters that were for this sample scored it favourably. Many awarded a full 5/5 and raved about it in the comments, leaving comments like: “My favourite… everything I want in a chakalaka,” and “The perfect balance of spice, flavour and veggies! Adding this to the cart immediately!”

Other tasters noted things like, “Veggies were very mushy and tastes strongly of raw spices,” and “Very oily, the oily taste overpowers the other flavour,” which ultimately affected the score each of those tasters awarded the sample and the average score in the end.

Overall, this sample did bring that characteristic chakalaka flavour, even if it divided the sampling audience!

Costs on average R24.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Lucky Star Chakalaka 3.5/5

Tasters thought that while it was on the sweeter side it definitely had a bit of a tang to it, it was well balanced on the spiced front, and it was packed with flavour.

Here are what some of the tasters commented: “Tastes mildly spiced but not too hot. Almost a sweeter version but vinegar taste also comes through. Veggies have some bite to them which is nice, not mushy,” and “On the sweeter side, but enjoyable. Much more flavour packed!”

Costs on average R23.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

SPAR Chakalaka Mild & Spicy 3/5

Many tasters noted that this sample reminded them more of atchar than chakalaka. The sample was more on the oily side, mildly spiced with a good amount of veggies that had some bite to them.

Tasters noted some of these comments: “Delish… but tastes quite atchar-y,” and “Reminds me of mango atchar actually, but I really liked this one. Veggies aren’t mushy and have a nice spiciness to them.”

Costs R21.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Food Lover’s Mild Chakalaka 3/5

Tasters felt this sample was a bit thin in consistency and lacked veggies, so not a stand-out sample overall.

“The consistency is very thin and watery which isn’t ideal for a relish,” is what one taster noted.  Another felt the sample failed to satisfy, noting: “Tastes like raw spices to me… like the spices haven’t been cooked out properly. Very thin consistency. Lacks veggies and veggies that are there are mushy.”

Costs R19.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Pot O’ Gold Chakalaka Mild 3/5

More of a tangy version of chakalaka that just seemed to miss the flavour mark, with most tasters noting it was rather bland.

“Tastes strongly of vinegar, very bland otherwise. Veggies very small, few and far between, almost mushy,” and “Slight spicy undertone, not enough tomato flavour or flavour in general. Quite bland,” were some of the comments tasters left.

Costs R19.99 for a 410g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Rhodes Quality Chakalaka Mild & Spicy 1.5/5

The sample had a very savoury flavour to it; tasters noted that it lacked that spicy flair so characteristic of chakalaka, even for a mild version.

Tasters noted things like: “Not a fave. Very funny flavour. It just tastes savoury? Salty maybe? But not mildly spiced,” and “This is basically just a tin of julienned carrots! It’s a no from me.”

Costs on average R22.99 for a 400g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Woolworths Food Mild Chakalaka 1.5/5

All tasters noted that this sample was very heavy on onions and oil. It had a very savoury taste to it that was not reminiscent of chakalaka. This sample was also very subtle when it came to the spices.

This is what tasters had to say: “Very heavy on onions… not much other veg. Tastes very savoury,” and “Onion and oil. That’s all I could taste.”

Costs R20.99 for a 400g tinchakalaka-taste-test

Try this boerewors, chakalaka and Mascarpone pizza and 5 other ways with this SA staple!

chakalaka and boerewors pizza Click here to see more Food24 Taste Tests!

The rules of Food24 Taste Tests:

– For the purpose of this taste test, only mild chakalakas were sampled.

– All tasters tasted and scored all samples. Each individual taster’s preference impacts the score they give.

– The samples were tested without packaging and were not easily identifiable.

– The samples were not labelled and were tasted in random order.

– This article is not sponsored in any way, and Food24 was not paid to come to any particular result.

Our taste tests are always unbiased and intended for your information. You may, however, have come to this article through various paid-for advertising.

Tags: chakalakaCondimentsSouth African Food


Related Posts

chakalaka-taste-test
Food24 taste tests

Taste Test round-up: South African Heritage Day edition

September 23, 2023
peppermint-crisp-pudding-homemade-vs-store-bought
Food24 taste tests

Peppermint Crisp pudding: Homemade vs store-bought

September 22, 2023
best-store-bought-garlic-baguette
Food24 taste tests

Food24’s top garlic butter baguette revealed

September 15, 2023
Next Post
liquorice

What is liquorice and where does it come from?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

10-grocery-finds

10 new products we’ve discovered while grocery shopping

September 27, 2023
Peppermint-crisp-cheesecake

We asked, you answered: What is SA’s favourite dessert?

September 20, 2023
best-south-african-chutney-brands

Fruit chutney showdown: 8 store-bought picks put to the test

September 8, 2023
fondue charcuterie

5 ideas for the perfect winter-friendly charcuterie board

August 14, 2023
roasted-potato-and-tomato-soup

Food24 shares our memories from the ‘soup-er women’ in our lives

August 9, 2023

Recent favourites

  • layered cake

    Woolworths launches new cake slice range – and Checkers responds in the best way!

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Peppermint Crisp pudding: Homemade vs store-bought

    31 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 10 new products we’ve discovered while grocery shopping

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Changing the lives of Cape Town’s homeless one coffee bean at a time

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • We asked, you answered: What is SA’s favourite dessert?

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Festive
  • Baking
  • Dessert Recipes
  • Braai Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • New recipes
    • Easy weekday meals
    • Videos
    • Budget recipes
    • South African recipes
    • Cooking with lamb
    • Beef recipes
    • Fish and Tips
    • Braai recipes
    • Pork recipes
    • Air fryer recipes
    • Chicken recipes
    • Vegetarian recipes
    • Baking
    • Gluten-free recipes
    • Dairy-free recipes
    • Pasta recipes
    • Cocktails
    • Non-alcoholic drinks
  • Features
    • Food news
    • Recipe round-ups
    • Food24 Taste Tests
    • Kitchen Design and Appliances
    • Drinks
      • Wine
      • Beer
      • Coffee
    • Conscious Cooking
    • In Season
      • Spring
  • Cooking guides
    • Pantry staples
    • Load shedding lifesavers
    • Baking tips and tricks
  • World Cup Weekend Guide
  • More
    • Win
    • Newsletters

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.
Close
Food24
Get the latest recipes delivered to your inbox weekly
Promotional Newsletter

Be the first to receive information about competitions and special offers from Food24 and it's partners.

You have successfully been subscribed!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Make sure you have completed all required fields.
I don't want to see this again