For this low sugar v original taste test, we put ordinary raspberry jam up against its reduced sugar counterpart. Which came out on top?
Jam: essential Waitrose raspberry jam v essential Waitrose reduced sugar raspberry jam
The difference: the original jam contains 254 calories per 100g and an overall 63g of sugar per 100g, whereas the reduced sugar version has 178 calories per 100g and an overall 43g of sugar per 100g. The only extra ingredient the reduced sugar jam has is a preservative.
The test: six tasters tested the two varieties. They were not told beforehand what the difference between the varieties was, so it was a completely blind test.
The result: original wins. Four people picked it, while the other two preferred the reduced sugar version because ‘the other one was bit too rich’ and ‘this one has less bits in it’. Those that picked the original as their favourite said: ‘more of a raspberry taste to it’; ‘better texture’; and ‘more natural flavour’.
Conclusion: tricky. There’s significantly less sugar in the reduced sugar jam, and only one extra ingredient. No-one hated the reduced sugar option, and a couple of people said that the two were similar in taste anyway. Lovefood approves of reduced sugar jam (especially if you don’t like bits).
See all our low fat v original taste tests
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