Supermarkets, A lack of taste.

[Kronos]

Due to on going medical problems not least being the inability to swallow solid food most of my nutrition comes from foul tasting Fortisip drinks, a nutritional supplement. So I thought I would have a go at making my own drinks and to that end bought one of these mini mixers.

I then bought a selection of 'soft' fruits and I use the term loosely as most were not remotely soft but on the packaging it says "Ripen in fruit bowl" so I thought OK why not. Except that even though the fruit softened it was tasteless and certainly not moist.

I can remember eating peaches where the juice ran down the sides of your mouth and hand but with this rubbish from the supermarkets they were dry as were the plums, grapes, mangoes in fact all of the fruit. But what was worse was the absence of any flavour.

I have since tried the frozen raspberries and black cherries and I must admit the flavour was there, but what is it with supermarket so called fresh produce that it lacks any real flavour and this is not just the fruit, meat and fish are up there along with the vegetables.

Where does one go for flavoursome foods but fruit in particular?

 

[Efour]

Time Machine?

or

Get a 2nd Mortgage and find some poncy farmers market/organic/hand grown/ethically sourced/ outlet.

 

[cheesyboy]

Time Machine?

or

Get a 2nd Mortgage and find some poncy farmers market/organic/hand grown/ethically sourced/ outlet.

Yeah... Or try a local greengrocer or ethnic supermarket.

Also, markets (and large car boot sales often have fruit sellers). Sometimes the produce will be class B, so a bit ugly, and often close to what you might consider "best before". That's why it's so cheap and, as it happens, nice and tasty because it's actually ripe.

Supermarket fruit and veg is convenient and pretty - i buy much of mine from there for those reasons (well, the convenient bit anyway). But it's expensive and (relatively) not very nice to eat.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

I find that Aldi and Lidl fruit/veg is far better tasting than big supermarket ones, a damn sight cheaper too

However it always seems to go off a lot faster

 

[Aedus]

May be being stupid here but have you tried meal replacement drinks that body builders use? They taste delicious and should give you your proteins and Carbs from that. You buy them in powder form and mix with milk, absolutely amazing.

 

[Efour]

Yeah... Or try a local greengrocer or ethnic supermarket.

Also, markets (and large car boot sales often have fruit sellers). Sometimes the produce will be class B, so a bit ugly, and often close to what you might consider "best before". That's why it's so cheap and, as it happens, nice and tasty because it's actually ripe.

Supermarket fruit and veg is convenient and pretty - i buy much of mine from there for those reasons (well, the convenient bit anyway). But it's expensive and (relatively) not very nice to eat.

What because they dont get it from the same regional supplier? They have some mystical trade route set up to the garden of Eden ?

I guess im spoilt growing up In Romford where there as a decent fruit and veg market 4 times a week.

 

[pitchfork]

The likes of tesco/ asda/ sainsburys they buy their fruit based on uniformity and looks, they don't care too much about taste. I can't bring myself to buy produce in those places any more because it's just not good enough and quite aside from that it's very expensive.

I tend to buy from a greengrocers, it's not only cheaper but the fruit and veg is miles apart. So much more flavour, so much fresher. Mine isn't a fancy one, it's mostly used by indian and chinese immigrants who speak next to no English.

However if you're stuck for a greengrocer try a lidl store - their fruit and veg is actually really good quality. It might not look fancy but the flavour is there, like you say - peaches where you come out with a face like a glazed doughnut and a **** eating grin, tomatoes which smell and taste like a tomato should, peppers so sweet they make your mouth water.

All the good stuff.

 

[cheesyboy]

What because they dont get it from the same regional supplier? They have some mystical trade route set up to the garden of Eden ?

I guess im spoilt growing up In Romford where there as a decent fruit and veg market 4 times a week.

I'm not sure what aspect you're arguing

 

[Kronos]

Unfortunately local shops selling decent tasty produce are pretty thin on the ground around my way and my mobility is not as it once was. But I knew this anyway I just wonder why we have allowed these massive chains top dictate to us the quality of the food that they say we want.

You oft hear supermarkets use the words "Our customers want" or "Our customers have asked for" so where are al these people that want tasteless food and we are supposed to eat five a day, that is not going to happen.

 

[wez130]

Fruit and veg from the supermarket is dire, i remember seeing a program called 'secrets of the supermarkets', they store their apples for upto 6 months or something at a certain temperature and in complete darkness sometimes so they are available all year round.

 

[Efour]

I'm not sure what aspect you're arguing

None. i'm saying you got supermarkets or imported wholesale.

 

[Sunbed]

I try to stick to UK grown stuff when it's in season. For example, I bought a bag of Cox apples from ASDA the otehr day and they're awesome! Best (supermarket) apples I've had all year.

 

[ci_newman]

Your biggest issue is that you're now out of season for the summer fruits, peaches, plums etc so anything you're buying has been imported from the other side of the world.

If you buy peaches etc in season, leave them to ripen and they should be juicy and flavoursome.

 

[Freefaller]

I find fruits and veg in supermarket can be good but you just have to be sure to pick the right ones. Alternatively is there a greengrocer you can go to?

 

[Glaucus]

Unfortunately most places do when it comes to veg, far easier to get decent meat.
Not only do they pick stuff with shelf life in mind, it's bread with uniformity, shelf life and looks in mind. Not taste.
But trying to find places which supplies "rare"/old breads of vegetables is nigh on impossible. Even places like riverford seem to use modern breed.
Breed isn't the right word, bit I'm not sure what is. It's why growing veg is so good. You can decide what breed you want based on flavour. although this season was a disaster. I did get two amish paste tomatos, and god they where good for sauce like things. try finding things like that in supermarkets, or anywhere else.

It's annoying as, as I say it's so easy to find rare breed meat which is ethically farmed in low density sustainable heard. But veg isn't the same. The box schemes just seem to be organic and picked ripened, so have marginal benefits.

 

[Cosimo]

Been buying some great quality fruit and veg but you need to go to Portugal.

 

[Dis86]

As has been said plenty, find a greengrocer. The difference is night and day.
Ours sells amazing plums with rich deep red centres. The juice just spills from them when you bite it and the flavour is unreal. I may have just had a crisis thinking about it.
Please excuse me.

 

[pitchfork]

You oft hear supermarkets use the words "Our customers want" or "Our customers have asked for" so where are al these people that want tasteless food and we are supposed to eat five a day, that is not going to happen.

Most British people are terrible cooks - lazy, uncaring and they know nothing about produce or quality of food. Food is seen as fuel "I'll get it out of the way and I can watch coronation street with a brew"

Why do you think there is such a call for ready meals and prepared foods?

Most people don't know a good apple from a bad one, they buy the one which looks fresh and tasty. When a supermarket says it's what the customers ask for they mean it's what sells to their customers best.

Sadly Britain has a very weak food culture, those who care about their food need to work harder to find their ingredients.

 

[Kronos]

Been buying some great quality fruit and veg but you need to go to Portugal.

Can I use my bus pass to get there?

 

[boxman2000]

The likes of tesco/ asda/ sainsburys they buy their fruit based on uniformity and looks

Exactly, also shelf life.

Great examples of this are your typical onions/garlic found in almost every shop as well as bell peppers. Far nicer varieties out there but shelf life and uniformity are not so guaranteed.

Local farmers markets, independent shops etc will be a better bet.