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Hellmann’s Tomato Ketchup Sweetened only with Honey testers feedback thread NOW CLOSED

262 replies

AnnMumsnet · 30/05/2017 11:58

This thread is for the MNers who are trying this new ketchup with their families - read on to find out what they think!

Hellmann’s say “Hellmann’s Ketchup sweetened only with Honey. An all-natural recipe offering Mum’s more of the ingredients they want, and less of the ingredients they don’t – 36% more tomatoes, and 30% less sugar (vs. market leader standard tomato ketchup)”

Testers, please share your thoughts on the questions below and feel free to also tweet your comments and photos to @HellmannsUK (include @mumsnetinsight!)

What did you think overall about the product?
What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

Everyone who takes part and who shares feedback on the thread and by completing the survey will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 supermarket voucher for the store of their choice.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Hellmann’s Tomato Ketchup Sweetened only with Honey testers feedback thread NOW CLOSED
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6
BarbInTheUpsideDown · 31/05/2017 21:45

Thanks for letting us test!

Overall I liked the product and was pleasantly surprised at how it compared to our usual Heinz. Very tomatoey and tangy.

The lower added sugar and higher tomato content appealed to me.

I found it grew on me more and more as I tried it a few times. It's definitely different from Heinz - less sweet, more flavour of tomato. The kids weren't keen, I'm afraid. I think it was just a bit too different for them. DH and I preferred it, though.

Not sure if I'd buy it again, just because the DC wouldn't use it and I wouldn't want to be buying two different kinds of ketchup. Maybe when they leave home! I might consider it as an ingredient or marinade for other recipes, though, and buy it for that purpose.

I would recommend it to others, and I'll probably take it along to the next barbecue we go to.

Titsywoo · 31/05/2017 22:51

What did you think overall about the product?
I liked the bottle and branding of the product. I also liked the idea of a healthier ketchup. Sadly none of us were keen on the taste. It was far too sweet which made it unappealing to my children.
What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
I liked both the idea of more tomatoes and honey over refined sugar seemed like a healthier option.
How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
Very sweet - it left a funny aftertaste that we didn't like
Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
No unfortunately we wouldn't buy it again due to not liking the taste.
And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
Yes I'd recommend it to friends. Most people are keen on clean eating nowadays and even though we didn't like the taste I'm sure lots of others would.

BowsandArrows · 31/05/2017 23:01

What did you think overall about the product?
I thought it didn't taste particularly nice, and not like an ordinary ketchup.

What appealed to you about trying it?
Definitely that there was less sugar compared to other ketchups.

How did it taste?
Odd. It didn't taste like ketchup, more of a barbecue flavour.

What did other members of your family think about the taste?
My kids liked it - they didn't really notice that it wasn't our usual brand.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
No, because I didn't like the taste.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
I would mention that I had tried it, and that it had less sugar. But I would be unlikely to recommend it because I didn't enjoy the flavour.

Miaow1234 · 31/05/2017 23:43

Liked the packaging and wanted to try as something different from other ketch ups.

We as a family didn't like it, we all found it too sweet and my daughter said it was tangy and refused to eat anymore after one try.

It is a good alternative if a family consumes a lot of sugar so I would mention to people but we will stick with our reduced sugar heniz.

mooity · 01/06/2017 07:43
  1. I thought it was good. Something different to what we have normally. Packaging was clear and made the USP obvious.

  2. I was intrigued by the sweetened by honey aspect as DS2 eats a lot of ketchup so always trying to find a healthier alternative

  3. &4) To me it tasted nice, much sweeter than I expected but a nice alternative flavour. Unfortunately DS2 could tell the difference and wasn't to be persuaded that it was 'ketchup' even once I showed him the packaging. DS1 however, who is not normally a sauce fan actually quite liked the taste.

  4. I think I probably would by it again as I certainly preferred the taste.

  5. I have already discussed it with my friends and they are keen to try it. BBQ planned for next week!

amprev · 01/06/2017 07:59

What did you think overall about the product?

It was a lovely colour and thickness and glossy and not watery as some ketchup can appear when you're used to using Heinz.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

It being lower sugar appealed to me initially but now having learned that it contains more tomatoes than comparable brands, this is appealing too, because of the health benefits. When I have compared the nutritional info between this product and my usual ketchup (Heinz), I'm not sure exactly how Hellmans is more natural - the ingredients seem very similar to me.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

I had very mixed reviews from my family! I'm the person who eats the least ketchup and am probably not as fixed on how it should taste. I would happily eat this - the honey taste wasn't obvious to me, and it just tasted like a good ketchup to me. My husband stated that he liked it on his first tasting but on second tasting claimed to be able to detect the taste of honey in it. He liked it though, and this is someone who eats a lot (too much) ketchup. 10 year old daughter liked it but thinks she prefers our regular ketchup - she thought this one was a bit too sweet, like too much honey had been used to compensate for sugar not being used. 7 year old daughter didn't like but couldn't really say why. I was going to put it on her plate when we next have ketchup and not tell her it was the honey ketchup and see if I get a different response.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

I would buy it if the price was comparable to what I pay now. I see no reason not to - we pretty much all enjoyed it and it is lower in sugar, which is good.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why? I would recommend it because we liked the product and I expect most people would welcome a healthier option if they could be assured the taste wasn't affected. That said, I would probably add that I don't think this means it is a healthy product, just healthier than Heinz.

Birnamwood · 01/06/2017 08:34

What did you think overall about the product?
It is a good product and my ds's loved it. Dp and I are less keen and I still prefer another brand.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
The 100% natural recipe appealed more than anything as honey is far less processed than sugar.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

The ds's (who consume vast quantities of ketchup!) loved the taste and have continued to have it on a regular basis with no complaints. I'm afraid I have had to return to my normal brand as I felt there was an unusual aftertaste to the honey ketchup that I just couldn't get past.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

I will definitely buy it for the boys again, especially if it's on offer. Mainly due to the honey/natural /more tomatoes thing you've got going on

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

Probably. It's a good ketchup but just not for me

CountessOfStrathearn · 01/06/2017 08:38

What did you think overall about the product?

We all really liked it. DS (6) said it was "amazing and better than normal." I thought it was lovely and tomatoey and tasted less synthetic than the normal tomato ketchup.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

I didn't care too much about how the sugar was added (honey really is no better or worse than any other sugar), but I did like that there was more tomatoes and less sugar overall.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

Really tasty. It looked lovely and dark, like a premium tomato ketchup. No one would object to changing to it more regularly.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

Yes, keen to keep sugar consumption down and I appreciated the lack of artificial sweeteners.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

I would recommend it. Nice taste, less sugar, more tomatoes. It would just need to be on at a sensible price.

WildCherryBlossom · 01/06/2017 08:41

What did you think overall about the product?
I liked the look of the packaging. Good size, and easy for kids to use themselves.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
I was keen to try it as a slightly healthier alternative to the norm. My children consume loads of ketchup (broccoli dipped in ketchup anyone?) so a version with less sugar and extra tomato is very appealing.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
I gave the family a blind taste test, decanting out usual ketchup and the new one into identical pots and asked everyone to try a bit of each. They happily debated but no-one was entirely sure which one was the new one. The taste was pleasantly tangy. Couldn't taste honey and while it was sweet, not overly so. No cloying after taste as with some ketchups. They all liked it and would happily swap (my 4 year old ended up polishing off the contents of both pots I had put on the table - with her fingers ShockBlush)

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
I would absolutely buy it again. Always keen to reduce our overall consumption of refined sugars! And it seems to be around the same price as other ketchup I buy.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
Yes I definitely would. Tasted great and hopefully a little healthier. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to try it out.

DrDiva · 01/06/2017 08:44

What did you think overall about the product?

It seemed very good overall, good colour and flavour. Although my 4yo insisted it was purple!

What appealed to you about trying it?
Definitely the less sugar, both for toast and for flavour - I find many ketchups just too sweet.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
As DH is allergic to tomatoes and I am not a big fan of ketchup, 4yo DS is really the only one who eats it. Here is his verdict:
"It's really yummy, I can taste the honey. It goes well with ham."

Would you buy it again?
Yes, if the price were comparable to my usual buy (Heinz). Since he likes it, it would help keep the sugar consumption down.

Would you recommend it?
Yes probably, if someone was bemoaning the amount of ketchup their DC use!

DrDiva · 01/06/2017 08:46

For toast?? I meant health.

WindyWednesday · 01/06/2017 09:57

What did you think overall about the product? Using honey as a sweetener is a big appeal for me. I worry about the amount of sugar in things like ketchup. Loved the shape of the bottle. Looks very upmarket, the lid and squeezing part are very clean and work well.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader) The honey and more tomatoes.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste? I did a blind taste test. I decanted it into a bowl and we had it with pizza. Everyone really liked it, saying it was richer taste and more tomatoey. DH said, "this tastes very expensive"

Are you likely to buy it again? And why? yes, I liked the taste and the ease of use with the bottle. Unless it's very much more expensive than leading brands.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why? yes. I think most people think of Heinz for ketchup and reach for it without thinking. I'd certainly recommend this as a richer more homemade variety.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 01/06/2017 09:59

What did you think overall about the product?

DH and DS1 really enjoyed it - it tastes much more tomatoey and less sweet! DS2 wasn't such a big fan, he could tell it wasn't the usual but still ate it since there was no other option!

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

My boys go through worrying amounts of ketchup so anything to cut down on the sugar is a good thing.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

As above, it tastes much more of tomatoes which is delicious! It doesn't taste like honey at all as far as I can tell. DH and DS1 both prefer it to the low sugar Heinz.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

Yes I think so. It makes a more pleasant sauce for dipping and if the side effect is that DS2 stops smothering his food in ketchup that can only be a good thing!

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else

Yes definitely, DS1 has already told his grandparents that they need to buy it for his next visit!

ShelaghTurner · 01/06/2017 10:26

What did you think overall about the product?
Overall it went down well. DD2 is the Ketchup Addict and she's been banging on about testing this for ages. She loved it and said it was nicer. She was a bit disappointed she couldn't taste the honey though as she loves that too! (She's only 5).

What appealed to you about trying it?
Definitely the natural sugar aspect. DD2 would eat bottles of the stuff given half the chance and so anything that cuts down the sugar is good. I might even let her have a bit more than her usual rations.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
DD1 and I don't like ketchup at all. DH likes it but doesn't eat it because he's a health freak. He was a lot happier about this though and liked it a lot, said it tasted more of tomatoes than the usual one which he finds a bit artificial.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
Yes definitely. Haven't checked out the price yet but unless it's much more expensive then I see no reason why I wouldn't swap to this.

Are you likely to recommend this to anyone else?
Yes definitely. My dad likes a lot of ketchup and so I'm going to take it round for him to try too.

Rigbyroo · 01/06/2017 11:31

What did you think overall about the product?
We loved it, really tasty and a little went a long way.

What appealed to you about trying it?
less sugar and more tomatoes

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

It tasted delicious, we all loved it and preferred it to normal ketchup.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

Yes - I'm usually really strict with sauces but during the summer we do tend to have a different type of burger each week and the kids enjoy ketchup with it so I will purchase again so they can continue to enjoy it.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

Yes - taste and healthier option

Intotheclouds · 01/06/2017 11:39

What did you think overall about the product?

I thought it was a good product. Ketchup with a twist. I could taste the difference but it wasn't a big change and tasted nice.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

The honey aspect appealed to me as i love honey and it being made with natural sweetners.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

It wasn't too much different to 'normal' ketchup just more sweet. I think having too much would be too sweet but that just means it will last longer Smile

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

I would buy it again as I prefer it with it being made with natural sweetners.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

I would recommend it as it taste so good and the boys loved it.

ragz134 · 01/06/2017 12:02

What did you think overall about the product?
An expensive alternative to my Lidl one. Didn't taste better and the sugar in honey is still sugar so not worth the extra cost, in my opinion.
What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
Always looking for foods with fewer addititives and less sugar, especially as my kids eat so much ketchup.
How did it taste? Like ketchup...
What did other members of your family think about the taste? Daughter didn't like it, but she saw the label and she doesn't like honey so I think she wouldn't have noticed otherwise. No one else who tried it commented on a difference.
Are you likely to buy it again? No.
And why? Price
And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why? No. It seems a bit of a gimmick...

DreamsInBlack · 01/06/2017 12:03

What did you think overall about the product?

We really liked it and were pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavour. While the higher percentage of tomatoes appealed, sometimes that can mean a more acidic or sharp flavour but the honey and spices gave Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup Sweetened Only With Honey a well rounded, beautifully balanced and rich taste. I don't have a particularly sweet tooth and loved the perfect balance of sweet and savoury. I normally find tomato ketchup a little bland for me so I usually go for fiery versions or other sauces or condiments but I would definitely use this again, both as a condiment and as an ingredient in recipes. Consistency was very slightly thinner than other brands I've tried and this, along with the bottle design, meant the product was easy to use and didn't splatter all over the place.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

Mainly the all natural recipe, closely followed by the 36% more tomatoes. Impressed with the short ingredients list and that the tomatoes are sustainably grown. No mention of whether the honey comes from sustainable sources, though.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?

Really liked the rich flavour and the balance of sweet and savoury. The honey and spices gave a well rounded, deep flavour that added a flavour boost to the foods we've tried it with but didn't overpower. My partner and son are ketchup officionados and usually prefer another brand but both voted this a winner. They agreed it was much more flavoursome than their usual preferred brand and tasted like premium deli ketchups they've had.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

Yes, I'll be buying again as we all preferred the taste to other brands and the RRP of £1.89 is fairly good value. I use tomato ketchup as an ingredient as well as a condiment and this product would work well in the recipes I concoct.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

I already have. I work with the public and get the chance to talk to them about products I try so I'm always getting asked what I thought of them, and if I'd recommend them. Happy to say I'd heartily recommend Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup Sweetened Only With Honey, on flavour alone, but also for its natural ingredients, extra tomatoes and reduced sugar. And I had the chance to recommend it to other family members at the weekend, as we love sharing food ideas and discussing the products we're currently loving. We're aware honey is still a sugar, but less of it is needed to give the same sweetness and I told them how we thought the flavour was better than other brands. Will be sharing online too, via social media and review sites.

Thanks for the opportunity to try this product.

Hellmann’s Tomato Ketchup Sweetened only with Honey testers feedback thread NOW CLOSED
requestingsunshine · 01/06/2017 13:26

What did you think overall about the product?

It was a hit in our house. Myself and 4 dc all loved it. It tasted like a really good quality ketchup, very impressed. Packaging was good too and made it clear it was sweetened with honey.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

I liked the thought of it being sweetened with honey instead of refined sugar. We try to use as many natural ingredients as we can and ketchup has always been frowned upon by me! The kids though are hardcore ketchup fans so if I can steer them towards something more natural thats got to be a good thing. So was definitely worth trying it out.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
It tasted like a really good quality ketchup. And I found there was no chemically aftertaste that you get with some ketchups. The kids all loved the taste.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?

Yes because it tastes great and much better for us because of the natural honey.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

Yes, have already mentioned it to my sister and will be taking it along to a bbq next week so she can try it. My nephews are also firm ketchup-a-holics so she is hoping they will love it too.

BigGrannyPants · 01/06/2017 13:34

What did you think overall about the product?

It was a real hit in our house, me and my DH loved it and so have the kids! My DS1 now takes it over his usual tomato sauce with his dinner.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)

Something different I think, tomato sauce is a staple in our house so the thought of a twist on the original was really appealing! I love that it's sweetened naturally and honey has great qualities too!

How did it taste?

Really nice! Tangy and sweet but not over powering.

What did other members of your family think about the taste? my DS1 absolutely loves it and we will be buying it for him going forward.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
Everyone in the house likes it and my DS1 prefers it over normal tomato sauce! So we will definitely buy it again.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why? Yes I would recommend it, I think especially with kids they can be fussy and I've found that offering the ketchup sweetened with honey means they are prepared to eat things they otherwise wouldn't eat!

NerrSnerr · 01/06/2017 13:37

What did you think overall about the product?
We thought it was ok, it tasted different to ketchup but was nice. Really liked that it had honey in it.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
Yes, Iike the natural ingredients and the fact it had more tomatoes in it.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
It tasted different to regular ketchup, more like bean/ spaghetti hoop juice! We still liked it though.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
Yes, but maybe when on offer. We would use it as well as our other brands.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
Yes I would because it's different and nice

littledinaco · 01/06/2017 13:42

What did you think overall about the product?
Was happy with all of the ingredients. Happy with higher % of tomatoes. Liked the bottle. Liked the taste.

What appealed to you about trying it?
Was interested to see what it tasted like sweetened with honey. More tomatoes appealed to me.

How did it taste?
Was more acidic/tangy than I expected but I liked the flavour.

What did other members of your family think about the taste?
DCs all enjoyed it, said it was really nice.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
Yes woukd buy again, I prefer the ingredients in this compared to other t.ketchups.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
Yes, would recommend it to others as I know lots of people concerned about ingredients in things.

NewStateswoman · 01/06/2017 14:01

What did you think overall about the product?

We enjoyed it, it was tangy and tasty, and just gave us another option on the standard ketchup.

What appealed to you about trying it?

I liked the fact it had more tomatoes and was more naturally sweetened.

How did it taste?

It was tangy and sharp, really added to my meal. We had beetroot ketchup recently and it was bland and disappointing, this was much better!

What did other members of your family think about the taste?

The kids really liked it, they were keen to try it as they both love honey anyway.

Are you likely to buy it again?

Yes, I would, just to mix it up sometimes; probably not all the time but regularly.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?

Yes, I would. I feel happier with the ingredients, and we all enjoyed the taste. As long as it's not a crazy high price, I'd definitely recommend it.

Thank you!

Alexandra87 · 01/06/2017 14:05

What did you think overall about the product?
The product arrived on a day we were having a BBQ with friends so we had plenty of tasters. Overall thought was that the flavour of the tomatoes was more pronounced than in usual ketchups. It didn't seem as sweet and had more of a tangy vinegary taste but in a good way.

What appealed to you about trying it? - was it the all natural recipe, only being sweetened by honey, 36% more tomatoes + 30% less sugar (vs. market leader)
It appealed to me Because I'm becoming more and more aware of the amount of refined sugar my 3 dc consume and they do love their ketchup so to find a naturally sweetened version was good.

How did it taste? What did other members of your family think about the taste?
We thought it tasted more like an adults condiment than the sweet sickly ketchup that children seem to go for. Having said that my children were more than happy to dip their chips in! There was definitely a stronger tomato taste than usual ketchup and it was less sweet and more tangy.

Are you likely to buy it again? And why?
I would buy this product again as a way to reduce the refined sugar content in my dcs diets.

And are you likely to recommend it to someone else - if it came up in conversation - and why?
I definitely would recommend it to a friend/family member who was trying to reduce the refined sugar their children were consuming.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 01/06/2017 15:10

Mine never arrived.