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

I never got a voucher for this. It's like some sort of mythical creature, I've heard about the voucher but never seen it

• What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge? I normally use Lurpak spread, and Lurpak butter for baking/cooking.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery? Fine. I wouldn't have used it for baking.
• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery? I liked it, but didn't find it massively different to other spreads.

• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc? It was fine - nothing strange or 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, if it was on offer.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not? To be honest, I can't think of a situation where I would be discussing butter with friends...but, yes, I guess I would.

Update - It's on a 2 for £2 deal in Tesco at the moment, so I now have one entire shelf of the fridge filled with tubs.

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

Anchor spreadable for spreading in toast/sandwiches. Stork for baking cakes and supermarket own brand butter for buttercream.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

I found it very easy. The taste was better tan Anchor and I felt that the cakes turned out better than with Stork (which I've used for the past 20 yrs!)

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Very positive. Nice taste and very versatile.

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

Better than my usual product choice.

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

Yes, I enjoyed using it so much that I've switched to it (2 tubs new in my fridge right now). Seems to be on offer quite a bit as its new, so very affordable.

• 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 it for baking, as that is likely to come up in conversation, and it got better results than Stork.

Really sorry for delay in feedback - delay in receiving voucher along with my local supermarket- Morrisons not having stock in when I did my main food shop due to it being on special offer resulted in my not receiving the product until week before Christmas and this then led to my not finding time to post until today.

1. Used Utterly Butterly for spreading and Stork for baking
2. I have never eaten butter or margarine or any other low fat / full fat spreads I eat everything dry . My family therefore were the testers they liked it.

They found it easy to spread and light. We didn't use it for baking as it was Christmas and wanted to stick to our familiar Stork we always get good results. We would use Flora Buttery again and we would recommend it to others

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
Sainsbury's sunflower spread for spreading, and Sainsbury block butter for baking

How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?
Didn't really like it

What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
Didn't really like the taste

How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
Not as good

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 really like the taste

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
No - didn't really like it

Despite not really liking the taste, thanks MN for inviting me to try it!!

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

Generally some type of olive oil spread because DP thinks it is healthier and I buy butter too because I like the taste.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

Easy, we are used to trying new things.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

It was more buttery than the olive oil spread and I preferred it. It was easy to use in cakes with the children as it was already softer than butter so was much easier to cream without forward planning.

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

I preferred it to the spread but still prefer 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 still buy butter as I do prefer it but would happily buy Flora Buttery as a spread, especially if it was on special offer which is how we often select what we buy.

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

Yes, it tastes nice, works well in baking and is a comparable price to other products.

I was a tester.

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

Lurpak spreadable or Sainsbury butterlicious for bread and cakes, butter for cooking and butter icing.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

Was surprised how much the children liked it. they said they preferred it to normal. easier for them to spread it themselves too.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

That it was convenient and popular with the children. I found the taste fairly unobtrusive. It didn't have that bitter margariney taste that some spreads have.

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

Much more like a margarine in appearance and texture: it's bright yellow and very soft and easy to work.

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

We already have. My husband has bought it several times since the trial, as the children like it and he thinks it's a good medium between cheap supermarket brands that they don't like much, and Lurpak which can be a silly price. As I tend not to eat bread, I'm happy for them to continue to use it if they like it. They were pretty grumpy when I economised down from Lurpak to supermarket so this is a happy medium!

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

Truly, I can't imagine it coming up in many conversations, but I might recommend it to my mum or father in law, as it is easier to spread than butter, and now they are old they struggle a bit with things like that.

What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge? I initially used them to make cakes, the sponge seemed to have a deeper colour than usual. Comments were they tasted different in a dubious tone! I then used the rest of it making sandwiches, nobody seemed to notice any difference.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery? Fine, I don't think I'd use it for baking again but for sandwiches I'd buy if on offer.
• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery? I didn't notice any real difference apart from colour
• How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc? Changed the end product when making cakes but wasn't noticed in sandwiches
• 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 again
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not? I'd mention it if the topic came up, I wouldn't discourage the purchase but wouldn't rave about it either.

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

I can't believe its not butter

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

easy

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

good

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

similar

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

Yes, because I like the taste

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

children have butter, me and DP use Flora light or supermarket version depending on whats on offer for spreading then I usually use butter for baking

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

not much of a change for me and DP so fine

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

quite strong yellow colour otherwise very like other spreads

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

Quite good taste-one of the better ones I have tried.Taster better than the supermarket versions, more like a premium product. Texture is never going to be as good as spreadable butter but was not bad. Made decent cake but no good for scones or pastry

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

would do depending on the price as its one of the better spreads

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

possibly although I can't imagine this conversation!

I never did receive the voucher but thought I had better buy some and feed back for fear of being blacklisted my Mumsnet

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

I never stick to one particular brand, I bought what ever was on special offer. I remover using Stork, Lurpak and lots of supermarket own brands.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

No problem, it tasted lovely, I would use it again.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

Creamy, tasty, easy to use, great packaging, I easily found it on the shelf.

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

I found it to be creamy and very easy to mix in to the other ingredients, it wasn't too thick or too thin, just right.

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

Although I am easily swayed by special offers I will use this brand again, however I cannot promise to use it everything because if another brand is half price that's the one I will go for.

• 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 it, I have already when someone complimented by biscuits, I told them all about. Mumsnet too!

at my tardiness in adding this feedback. Sorry, Christmas hectincness added to my general scattiness... sorry MNHQ

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

I use regular unsalted butter to cook and bake with, and a spread for errr, spreading. Usually a spreadable butter or sometimes a sunflower spread (if the latter, usually Sainsbury's own brand). I try and avoid ones with strange sounding chemicals in them.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

Fine - just switched from my usual spread to this one

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

A nice spread

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

spread very well, DD liked it in her sandwiches :)

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

Maybe, depends on price.

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

Errr IF it came up in conversation then yes I'd recommend it (then seek help as it'd come to something if we were chatting about spread )

Thanks again MNHQ for this product test

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

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery? It was ok.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery? Bit too strong taste

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

• 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 my normal brand

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not? no. Prefer other brands

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

Butter to cook with, olive spread or whatever is on offer to spread.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

No problem, but it wasn't stocked in my local co op or Tesco Express which made finding it difficult.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

The same as any other spread.

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

Not quite as greasy as some, easy to spread.

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

Not sure of the healthy benefits compared to vegetable oils, it was also difficult to find!

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

If it were on offer then yes.

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

I used a variety of different spreads, usually depending on what was on offer, occasionally getting butter as well.

• How did you find swopping to Flora Buttery?

I found it really easy to spread when making sandwiches, more so than a lot of other brands I have used.

• What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?

We all liked the taste and I really liked the fact it spreads so well.

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

It was quite a pleasant taste, better than other spreads but not as good as butter.

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

If on offer I would definitely stock up for sandwiches but I still prefer the taste of real 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, for spreading on sandwiches but wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it otherwise

- What did you use to cook/spread/bake with before this challenge?
I fried with olive oil, baked with butter & spread Utterly Butterly

- How did you find swapping to Flora Buttery?
Not great, to be honest! It's not as buttery tasting as Utterly Butterly & my cakes weren't quite right. Perfectionist!

- What was your overall impression of Flora Buttery?
It reminded me of the sunflower spread my parents use but with a tiny bit of buttery flavouring.

- How did the overall taste and texture of Flora Buttery compare to that of your usual butter/margarine/oil etc?
It was soft, so easy to spread but the taste just wasn't right.

- Do you think you'll be likely to continue using Flora Buttery in the future? If so, why? If not, why not?
No, I'm happy with my current fat choices! I'd swap if there was a cheaper, equally good alternative but this just isn't that, sorry!

- If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Flora Buttery to a friend or relative? If so why? If not, why not?
No, if I don't want to use it myself why would I recommend it?!

• before trying the Flora I would use Stork or any generic butter to bake with; for spread I usually buy whatever is on offer in supermarket at the higher end of the product choice eg brands like Olivio, Utterly Butterly etc. I also buy supermarket own brands for spread but only if nothing else is available on offer. For general cooking I use olive oil mainly but sometimes butter or a butter-type spread if I don't have the other stuff in. It's rare that I use actual butter for anything but the taste of it is always better than spreads- up to now.

• swapping to Flora Buttery was easy as its the type of thing I use anyway. I tried it with all the things I do in a typical week- sandwiches for packed lunches ( husband commented that it tasted better and less artificial than what usually use). Stir fried veggies and they came out really well- as if cooked in butter. Haven't tried any baking but imagine would work well as taste and texture quite natural and distinctly buttery.

• overall impression very good. A good substitute for real butter and nice taste and smooth texture. Like that it spreads easily from the fridge- the main reason I don't use butter is that it has to be left outof the fridge if I want to use it for sandwiches.

• as above, the taste was very good and butter-like although could tell it wasn't butter. Didn't notice any difference in texture to any of other spreads I use.

• I would definitely buy Flora Buttery again if it was on offer as that tends to be my main reason for buying anything these days due to budget constraints. I don't think the taste is that different from anything else I've bought to make me switch on that factor alone. If I was planning to do some baking I would probably buy it as its a very good substitute for butter and healthier.

• I would probably recommend it to my mum as a healthier alternative to butter, which she really likes the taste of & uses a lot for all purposes.

I STILL haven't received my vouchers! Don't want you to think I am ignoring the feedback request. Anyone else?

Yes! Me too - I'm still waiting for a voucher. Last I heard was the email to say the vouchers were being printed. Sorry, pc not on so can't say when that was exactly. Last week? Week before?

And likewise I'm not ignoring you either!

Yep, not received my voucher either.

same here, no voucher still. Very odd and a bit of a bad show really!

I'm still waiting too!

Still waiting on the voucher too

Still no voucher here either.