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

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
Butter to cook and spread (keep it out of the fridge in a dish), Stork for cakes because my mum does!

How did you find swapping to Flora Buttery?
Well without this challenge I wouldn't have done it. I'm a butter person - love the taste and the texture and am rather suspicious of margarine as a non-natural product. I can't believe it's healthier.

What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
Nicer than Flora, which we had as kids at relatives houses and I thought was vile tasting. But I still find it rather artificial seeming, something about the uniform slightly odd texture??? [overthinking]

How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/etc?
Hmm. Am used to marg in baking and noticed no difference in the cake really, though I 'm so sentimental about Stork and it's cheaper anyway so can 't see me switching. For cooking / eating - no no no. Doesn't come close to butter (which I spread thick enough to taste ), it's too soft and greasy/ slippery. I use butter with a little oil added for cooking where I want the flavour and that works really well for me.

Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
Doubt it, for reasons above. My husband does like spread but I get him dairy free ones, as he likes the taste / feels they're healthier.

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I don't think so. I see Flora products as being a bit suspect (sorry!) and this hasn't changed that.

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

I usually buy Clover, sometimes Flora if it's on offer.

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Fine, nobody noticed (except me).

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

It's easy to spread and generally inoffensive! I made cookies and flapjacks with it successfully.

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

I prefer Clover on toast as I thinkit tastes more buttery. However, in sandwiches and baking, nobody could tell the difference.

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

I'd buy it again if it was on offer - it tastes good and is easy to spread.

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

We don't really discuss butter/marg, but if asked I'd recommend it!

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery? It was ok, not the best I have used but by no means the worst.

• What was your overall impression Flora Buttery?A good substitute for 'real' butter

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?You could tell it was a mad product, it cooked and baked well but was quite pale and didn't melt on toast quite the same.

• Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?I would if it was on special offer but if I had to pay full price i would use a more convincing marge/butter substitute like Clover.

• 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, if only to say I had tried it and it was nice, but it depended what it was being compared to st the time. If it was the one on offer and cheaper than some of the other branded butter substitutes then yes definitely, but if it was a straight choice between this and clover, i'm afraid that I would not chooee this one.

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
I used either lurpack or country life spreadable butter.

How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?
It was quite nice at first trying something different as I had considered buying cheaper spreads due to the cost of our food bill rising. But we are butter fiends and I started to miss our usual. The children however really like Flora Buttery now.

What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
It tasted fine and much better than normal marge. The packaging is pleasant enough too.

How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
It doesn't taste as good as butter but we didn't expect it to. As a cheaper substitute it is not bad at all. The texture is more artificial but once in a sandwich or cooking that doesn't matter. It is easy to spread.Flora Buttery does have a vague buttery taste and a less noticible 'margarine' flavour. It is better than other things we have tried in pursuit of a cheaper alternative.

Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would use it again but will continue to buy butter while we can afford it. I would actually buy a small tub for DD as she genuinely likes it!

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 as the difference between that and spreadable butter isn't that bad- there is quite a big taste difference between flora buttery and pure butter though. If they were budgeting and missing butter I would say Flora Buttery is ok. I wouldn't recommend normal Flora as I have never liked it.

1. Prior to using Flora buttery I use whatever butter/spread is on offer in the supermarket. If there is nothing on offer I buy supermarket own brand spread. I currently have Clover in the fridge. For baking I use Stork margarine.

1. Swapping to Flora Buttery was fine. I had to go to a big supermarket to get it as I couldn't find it in any of the small supermarkets in the town centre where I live.

1. It was very nice. The packaging was inoffensive and the spread itself tasted fine. It was very easy to spread straight from the fridge which was great as a lot of products advertised as spreading straight from the fridge actually don't.

1. I would definitely buy it if it was on offer when I was shopping. I wouldn't buy it at full price because it's just too expensive and I am really very penny pinching when I do my food shop!!

1. If someone asked me about it I would say that I had tried it and that I liked it.

Thanks for letting me try something new.

1.Salted butter. We also have Olive Spread and I sometimes buy Soya spread.

1. Swapping was OK. The one good thing was that it is easy to spread. The butter has been solid in these cold mornings. My children didn't notice a taste difference, but I did.

1. Overall, it was OK but I didn't think it was buttery at all. If I'm going to have a spread I think I rather original Flora.

-4. I prefer butter taste wise. I also prefer Olive spread. It didn't really taste of anything much to me actually. My husband though said it was nice and smooth. I asked what my children thought and they said they liked it. Thumbs up from everyone but me then!

1. I don't think I'll use it again as I didn't realise it's substantially more expensive than other spreads. I don't understand why this is.

Dh says he'd buy it.

1. I'd recommend it because it's nice enough and easy to spread.

Really delighted, finally got some, so here's feedback as follows:-

1. Long time users of Clover.
2. Happy to swap to Flora Buttery and try something new. It has a nice buttery taste, not too synthetic.
3. Easy.
4. Taste and texture is relatively comparative to Clover, but maybe a little more of a margarine taste, rather than a butter taste.
5. I might use it in the future, but only if it had an offer that made it cheaper than Clover.
6. I might buy some for mum, who uses normal Flora/Flora Light for everything, she loves it, but I think it tastes synthetic. I think she might notice a positive difference with the more buttery taste of this one.

Thanks for choosing me for the product test!

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

I use Lurpak and Vitalite for spreading, Lurpak/vitalite/flora original or oil for baking

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

It's good, nothing amazing though.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

It's ok

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

I love butter, and Flora Buttery is just not butter. As a margarine though it is good. The taste and texture is definitely more like margarine than butter.

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

Maybe, I'll be guided b y the price

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

I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, but if someone mentioned it I would recommend it.

we used lurpack before I tested flora buttery.actually it tasted a lot better than I thought it would, great on toast and crumpets.overall impression was a great product, would buy again especially if on offer.texture and taste was good tasty we all enjoyed it.. I will continue to use flora buttery in future more likely to get it when its on offer . I would recommend to a friend in fact I have done already enjoy testing things for you

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

Supermarket's own brand sunflower spread or butter occasionally.

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Easy!

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Nice. I liked how easy it was to spread. It was nice on toast, just on its own. The packaging looks nice.

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

I think it is much nicer than what we normally use.

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

I would buy it if it was on an offer in the supermarket, but probably won't switch all the time.

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

Yes, probably in as far as it tastes good.

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
I usually use butter to bake with Lurpak spreadable for toast and sandwiches. My husband thinks margarine is the work of the devil.
How did you find swapping to Flora Buttery?
It was easy to bake with and the taste(in a cake) was fairly buttery. Not so good on toast.
What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
Better than margarine but not as good as butter.
How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
Ok in baking but the taste is a bit oily.
Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, if it was a good price and I wanted to do a batch of cakes or pastry.
If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
I might comment that it is Ok but I would stop short of a wholehearted endorsement.

I usually use Stork to bake and Lurpak to spread (or own brand knockoff if feeling skint that week ). DH uses Flora pro-activ because he's trying to get his cholesterol down.

Swapping was easy. Was pleasantly surprised by how good it was for baking - soft enough for mixing straight out of the fridge and gave a light
non-greasy sponge.

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

either unsalted butter or anchor spreadable

• How did find swapping to Flora Buttery?

I was less impressed than the rest of the family

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

I didn't like it. I wanted to, as it is cheaper than butter (and I'm a Flora!!), but just found the taste unpleasant.

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

I found it very artificial tasting, but DH and the DC didn't notice any difference! I used it on bread, in mashed potato, and in a cake, and I could taste it in all of them - DH and th DC didn't. Not sure how much this was because I knew it was there or not, but I am quite a pernickity eater, and am the type of person who will complain if I am served pepsi rather than diet coke (or coke light rather than diet coke, bleurgh).

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

until we finish the tub, yes, and I may use it for baking in the future - but I think on balance, the taste of real butter is worth the price.

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

probably not, I didn't like it.

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

I usually use I Can't Believe Its Not butter.

- How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Easy, I'm not too fussy about my spreads so had no trouble trying this one.

- What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Don't know if they're all like that but the tub looks dirty, like the paints coming off it which makes it speckly which did not appeal, not sure if it's supposed to be like that or if it was just my tub. The lid is very hard to get off and feels quite flimsy, like it could tear with the pressure I had to use to open it with.

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

I don't think it had a very strong flavour, I mainly use I can't Believe Its not butter which I think tastes quite strong so this was rather bland to me. It spread nicely and was a very pale colour which I found appealing. It did leave a bit if a greasy residue, like I'd put lip balm in my lips though.

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

If it was on offer I would buy it again. I don't like the taste I normal Flora but this one was nice. In Asda it was £1.80 which is too expensive for a small tub of butter when you can normally find a 1kg tub of ICBINB for £2.

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

I wouldn't recommend it as such but I would say it was alright.

At last, I fond some in Morrisons, but forgot to take the voucher with me, but bought it anyway as on offer.

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

I always use unsalted, either President or Lurpak

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

I found the texture a bit odd, and oily.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

It looked very similar to all the other tubs, so hard to differentiate it at first.

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

I found it a bit acrid and it left an aftertaste which wasn't pleasant.

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

No, I prefer block butter for the taste and easy to measure by slicing a piece off!

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

No, I don't tend to talk about things like this, especially if I don't like it, people can make their own call!

We usually buy tesco brand sunflower spread, but swap about sometimes, and use actual butter for special baking
Swapping to Flora Buttery has been pretty seamless because we're not very fussy.
It didn't stand out as being particularly special
I think we need to test it more to really check how it tastes, but it didn't taste as buttery as butter on bread. Not sure that there would be any difference between it and margarine if baked
To be honest we wouldn't switch permanently because the price is higher and no particular health benefits, we do up brand for health reasons, e.g. extra virgin oils but not for taste/appearance, e.g. value brand cereal/extra value leeks
On that basis, I don't think I would really recommend it

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

Lurpak for spreading and 'proper' butter for baking

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Fine, just used the voucher to get the tub when the last tub of Lurpak ran out and used it then on in for a week or so

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Felt the tub/lid felt a bit flimsy

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

Didn't taste 'right' to me (like it was a bit off?) and left a bit of an oily film but still tasted less synthetic than margarine so plus on that

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

No, didn't like the taste or texture

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

No, think its a matter or personal taste

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
Butter for baking and cooking, margarine for toast

How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?
Swapping Flora for our regular margarine was no problem but when it came to cooking and baking when really missed butter!

What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
Okay substitute for regular use margarine (e.g. toast) in terms of texture and taste but doesn't replace butter in a recipe, the end product just doesn't come out the same, whether it's taste, colour, consistency.

How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
Compares to other margarine fine, there's no real difference but when replacing butter it doesn't mix in the same, or melt the same or give the same texture/consistency to the recipe

Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
Definitely not for baking or cooking but it would all right as a regular margarine

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
Only as a replacement for regular use margarine

I use butter to cook and Lurpak unsalted for spreading.
Swapping to Flora buttery was fine.
I liked the taste and thought it was better than most margarines, but I still prefer Lurpak for spreading. I think Flora buttery was fine for baking, tasted good in cakes. I would use it again for spreading and baking if it was on offer in the supermarket.
I would recommend it, if it came up in conversation (although its not the sort of conversation I tend to have!).

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

Real butter or own brand butter-like spread.

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Fine, we enjoyed the taste!

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

A buttery tasting spread with the quality I would expect from Flora. Not too watery like some of these spreads.

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

Fine, a nice light flavour. Not as salty as some.

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

I would use again. Particularly if on offer as it is more expensive than some brands.

• 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 to those seeking an alternative to butter as it is not too watery which I find as the main problem with spreads.

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

Lurpak spreadable for toast/sandwiches, unsalted butter for cooking/baking

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Ok - I didn't swap for everything as I had some important baking to do I couldn't risk something different. I found it was ok for cooking but not great - eg a white sauce went a bit lumpy which it never normally does, it wasn't great at greasing baking tins as the grease proof paper didn't stick to it and I had to revert to normal margarine. The dc didn't notice any difference when I put it on toast for them.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Packaging looks a bit odd. Feels like lid of tub will break quite easily. Otherwise it's ok.

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

Found it a bit odd - better than normal margarine but not really like butter. Bit salty for my liking.

• 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, couldn't really see any particular benefit and I prefer the taste of lurpak.

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

No probably not unless they were specifically looking for a non-butter spread in which case I would do so as I preferred it to others I'd tried like 'can't believe it's not butter'.

• I use fry light to cook with and bertolli to spread and bake with

• I found it easier to mix the flora in my baking as it didn't set as hard in the fridge

• overall impression is ok, seemed a little 'plasticky' and manufactured but baked well and bun came out nicely!

• the taste was slightly more margarine like than normal, I did feel you could taste the difference but no change in texture

• I wouldn't continue to use this product as I prefer my usual

• I wouldn't recommend this as I still prefer my usual

I would love to have tried this, but the Royal Mail ripped my voucher across the bar code, rendering it unusable, and delivered it in a plastic 'damaged mail' envelope.

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

Oil to cook, Lurpak Lighter for spreading and unsalted butter for baking.

• How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?

Better than expected.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Sort of half between margarine and half butter.

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

I liked it in sandwiches but would not use it for cooking or on toast as when it was hot/cooked it had a stronger margarine taste.

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

I would choose it behind Lurpak Lighter Spreadable but would not completely discount buying it as I would have before testing it.

• 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, if they used a margarine product, I don't think that it measures up to butter though so do not think that it would replace a butter product.

(Sorry for the quick feedback - breastfeeding DD and she seems to object to the sound of the keys tapping away).

Firstly I was a bit irritated that the voucher for a free tub of Flora buttery was actually a voucher for an 85% discount off a tub of Flora buttery. The voucher was up to £1.70 off a tub and in my local supermarket, Sainsburys, it was £2. I had done my shopping online and as I couldn't use the voucher I stopped at the supermarket especially to pick up just this product and didn't have enough change on me (probably why it annoyed me otherwise wouldn't have noticed).

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
I've always used Clover. I used to occasionally try other spreads on offer but never liked any of them.

How did find swoping to Flora Buttery?
I was pleasantly surprised to find it very similar to my normal product and I didn't notice a lot of difference in taste. I've always associated the Flora brand with margarine and on the rare occasions I have tried it I've not been keen. I've used it in the same way as Clover and it has performed just as well.

What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
It has been positive (apart from the bad start of discovering my voucher didn't cover the product cost).

How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
It is very similar, perhaps a little softer to spread (maybe a little too soft if I am being very critical). I made a cake with it and couldn't notice any difference to my normal cakes in taste / texture.

Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
If I saw it on offer then yes, definitely. If it wasn't on offer I'd probably continue to use Clover out of habit and because I feel more positive about the Clover brand as a whole.

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
If a friend asked me about it (for example saw it and tried it at my house) I would tell them to give it a try as it is actually a nice product and good all rounder.