Flora Buttery product test feedback thread - £200 John Lewis voucher to be won

[AngelieMumsnet]

This thread is for the 250 Mumsnetters who are taking part in the Flora Buttery challenge.

Here's what Flora have to say, "Lovingly blended for a flavoursome buttery taste, Flora Buttery has a splash of buttermilk mixed in with our natural sunflower goodness. Buttery is super easy to spread and that also means that it's magic for mixing, especially when baking with the kids - it's super for special cakes or every day cupcakes alike, and also makes a mean icing! Check out our website for some recipes that we know will soon become super-speedy family favourites.

Why not find out if you're a better baker with Flora Buttery?"


Testers were given a voucher to buy Flora Buttery.

We've got a set of questions we'd like you to answer about using Flora Buttery, but please also feel free to add any other thoughts you may have.

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?

All testers who leave their feedback on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 John Lewis voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

[rachaelsit]

Whoops don't know why I posted on here I was confusing it with the flora gold test!

[rachaelsit]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

Lurpak and country life

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

Ok but I do like my 'real butter'

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

It was healthier but still with rich taste

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

Texture was more spread like but the taste was good!

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

No probably not, real butter can't be substituted in my op

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

Yes if they wanted an alternative to butter but not spread

[hunhun007]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

We used it to make some cookies, for baked potatoes and on our morning sandwich

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

It is nice but not as a butter replacement; it doesn't have a taste for it

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

Ok... I am not in love with it but I can see some potential use for it

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

It is not as good as butter but it is great in baking

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

We might try it as a replacement of Stork for baking. It worked rather nice in our cookies we baked with it

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

I would but only as a baking ingredient. I do not think it has a taste to replace our everyday butter

[florencebabyjo]

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
Butter to bake and soft spread for baking. Olive oil for cooking

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

It was fine, but the kids didn't like it as a spread and said it didn't taste 'real'. It was a very different taste to butter but was quite pleasant.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

It was a bit artificial tasting and not really like butter at all. It reminded me of the old St Ivel Gold.

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

The texture was nice and creamy but did not taste anything like butter.

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

I might have a tub in the fridge on standby but prefer to use butter on my bread and vegetables. I didn't really enjoy the flavour enough to use it regularly.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

I would always say to try it, but I would not really recommend as it did not taste buttery to me.

[bracken101]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

Flora light for eating and stork for baking

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

It was really really delicious on toast and in sandwiches. It tasted nice in a lemon cake I made as well.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

Very good.

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

It was much more like real butter than the flora light I usually use is.

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

Double the calories of my usual spread, but maybe for a treat. I would use it in baking.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

Yes, wholeheartedly.

[MissRee]

I got notification that I was one of the original testers for Flora Buttery but never received a coupon. Anyhoo, I have bought some anyway and done some baking with it:

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

Butter/oil as recipe instructed.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

Fine - didn't really notice a difference, which was great.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

It baked in the same way that butter did so no reason not to use it in future.

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

Neither me or DP could taste or see a difference between the two.

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

Possibly - especially if its on offer in the supermarket!

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

Yes, I probably would if they were looking for an alternative to Butter.

[HeartStarCircleSquare]

Same here KJ

[KJ123]

I think i am on the wrong thread but can't find the one for Gold from Flora - can you help, please?? I need to add my feedback. Thanks!

[PancakesAndMapleSyrup]

1. Block of unsalted butter from whichever supermarket im at or anchor butter spread.
   

1. Swopping was fine although i wasnt sure what the end product would taste like. Unsure to begin with.
   

1. Looks good, although its a direct copy of the bertolli gold product. Got my flora last week! Inside lookes like the flora margarine anyway just a less yellowy colour.
   

1. Its margarine, it takes no dirrefent to the normal flora. I think the 'splash' of buttermilk must have missed my tub.
   

1. No, it tasted like margarine and has no Butter taste whatsoever. Unimpressed.
   

1. I wouldnt recommend if i was asked about it specifically but i would say its an expensive gimmick and substitue it for a normal pack of flora instead, but I doubt it would come up in conversation.

[candyflosscloud]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

Unsalted Butter from Asda

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

mixed in fine and tasted no different

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

good impression of the product itself however Flora the company was late 3 months sending me this so that's why my review is late!

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

No different

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

I would most likely use this if I had no unsalted butter in the house and I already had this in the house. However that's very unlikely now as I shop at Aldi now to save myself a bomb!

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

Yes I've recommended it on my blog too! candyfl0sscloud.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/review-flora-buttery.html

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

Olive or vegetable oil for frying and Stork or own brand marg for baking. We tend to buy Lurpak or Countrylife for spreading on bread.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

Easy for baking. I didn't really like using it for frying, something about putting in a dollop of spread just seemed lard-like and we didn't like the taste for spreading.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

As above. Fine for baking but DH particularly didn't like the taste on bread.

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

We didn't really like the taste on butter preferring our usual Lurpak or Countrylife. Again, I preferred to use oil for frying. For baking it was easy. However the top of my fairy cakes had a strange holey texture. Wasn't a problem when they were covered in frosting, and taste was good.

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

I would probably buy it if it was on offer for baking. However I doubt it would be cheaper than Stork or own brand marg.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

I probably wouldn't recommend it. It's not the worst spread we've had on bread but there are others we prefer. For baking, it's an expensive alternative and the slightly strange top to my fairy cakes meant I wouldn't recommend it. Fundamentally nothing wrong with it but expensive, yet not standing out as being delicious on bread. I'd rather by premium spread for eating and cheap marg for baking.

[cather]

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
  

For cooking and baking I always use butter or stork depending on the recipe and I always use butter for spreading

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

We didn't really notice any difference with cooking and baking but it wasn't the same as butter on toast and bread

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

It was ok for cooking but I wouln't normally buy it for spreading as we all prefer butter

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

It tasted better than I expected but not enough to make us swap

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
  

No as we much prefer butter

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
  

Yes, whilst it wasn't for us I can see the benefits and would recommend it

[Macdog]

Voucher never arrived
Have fun everyone

[KJ123]

I used butter, margarine or other spread, and oils, - depending on what I was cooking ( or what I had! ).
Easy to swap to Flora with the voucher, tho didn't think it was ever going to arrive.
It was fine to cook with - didn't notice any difference.
May use it again, depending on price compared to similar products.
Unlikely to speak to others about it as just don't discuss butter/ marg etc that often with friends!!

[lottietiger]

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
Stork for baking & an Olive oil based spread spreading, butter or olive oil for cooking

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
  

Easy as i spent the voucher i (eventually) received

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
  

Overall impression was good

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
  

The taste was good, it was less like a margarine and more like a butter spread like Utterly Butterly

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not? Yes i would buy it if it was in my local supermarket and not loads more expensive than my standard spreads
  
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not? Yes i would recommend, it tastes good and spreads easily. Also mixes easily for baking.

[LackaDAISYcal]

10thingsIhateaboutpoo (Brilliant user name ) I started a fred over HERE Come and add your voice to the non receivers...all welcome!!!

MN have said they will deal with it on Monday!

[10thingsihateaboutpoo]

My voucher never arrived either so it's a big fat boo to Flora from me!

[florencebabyjo]

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge? I use butter to spread and stork to bake with usually.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery? Fine, it was great on sandwiches and everyone said they liked the taste
  
• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery? Light and creamy tasting
  
• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc? I do love the taste of butter but this was pleasant enough although I do prefer the real thing.
  
• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not? I think I would use it in bakin as it was nice and light but prefer butter for sandwiches and baked potatoes.
  
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not? I would recommend for baking and ease of use.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Still nothing here Given up hope of ever recieving it tbh. And if Flora had any customer service conscience they would be making sure everyone that hasn't received theirs had it by now before sending out the next tranche for their panel. Really put off applying for anything else now MN; this has been a bit of a joke.

[AngelieMumsnet]

Hi everyone, apologies again for all of the delays with this. Quite a few of you who have started receiving your vouchers are on the Flora panel, and I've sent everyone on the panel an email. If you haven't received my email but you received a voucher recently, could you please send me a PM?

We've also opened a new feedback thread, so if panel members could post their feedback here, that would be great.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me :)

[HazelDormouse]

At long last my voucher came at the weekend.

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
I used a mixture of different products: a light oil, butter and flora Pro activ.
How did you find swapping to Flora Buttery?
It is easier to use/spread than a traditional butter. Found it was really easy to make mash potatoes. It is about as easy to use as Flora pro activ.
What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
It has the taste of butter, but the convenience and ease of a margarine/similar spread.
How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
I was surprised how pleasant it tasted. All the benefits of a butter.
Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
I will probably use it every now and then. I will probably substitute it for traditional butter but not Flora pro activ. (My husband prefers the latter due to the health benefits.)
If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I would recommend Flora Buttery to friends and relatives as an alternative to traditional butter.

[snowymum12]

I've just received my voucher and had a few days to trial Flora Buttery. Here's my review:

1. before this challenge I used 'proper' butter or spreadable butter for spreading and baking.
   
2. I was a bit anxious about swapping to Flora Buttery as I've never found a spread which gives the same creaminess and slight saltiness that proper butter does. In terms of baking I like the 'creaming' aspect of baking as I feel it adds to the lightness of my cakes and soft spreads just don't cream in the same way as butter.
   
3. I thought that Flora Buttery was an acceptable alternative to use. It's not quite as good as 'proper' butter for baking but produces pretty light, fluffy cakes. It definitely isn't as nice on toast though.
   
4. in terms of taste, it doesn't have the true buttery taste that I look for but it would be fine for sandwiches, etc.
   
5. I might use Flora Buttery again for baking as it is convenient but probably wouldn't use it for toast as I just prefer butter on my bread.
   
6. as Q5, I'd recommend Flora Buttery to friends and relatives for convenience when baking.

[zipzap]

I've just 'won' a voucher for a tub of buttery too.

Maxy you've obviously won the jackpot if you have won two vouchers

[lemony7]

I've "won" one tub too. Can anyone clarify what is going on please...?! Are us "winners" supposed to complete these tasks?