Condiment worthy of your holiday dinner
Don’t feel like making cranberry sauce this Thanksgiving? You’re in luck.
Three years ago, when last we tasted the turkey condiment, the pickings were slim and our panelists were unimpressed.
This time, it was the exact opposite. With nearly triple the number of whole berry cranberry sauces available, our tasters found two newcomers worth adding to your holiday table.
Pacific ($3.89 for 15.6 ounces at Rainbow Grocery) took the cranberry crown with its “tart,” “slightly sweet” and overall “mild” offering. This organic condiment is full of “nice pieces of whole cranberries” that “pop” in the mouth, though one taster had trouble with the “tough skins.” Three would buy this brand, one might and one would not.
Runner-up status went to Trader Joe’s refrigerated fresh cranberry sauce ($3.49 for 16 ounces). “Chunky” and “not too sweet,” this “fresh” cranberry sauce “tastes homemade” and “familiar” — if a little on the “tart” side, with “overpowering lemon flavor.” Two would buy, two might and one would not.
In third place was 365 ($1.99 for 14 ounces at Whole Foods). “At last, some spices!” one taster wrote. Alas, others took issue with the “mushy texture” and “annoying skins.” While three might buy, the other two would not.
Meanwhile, Tracklements ($6.99 for 9 ounces at Mollie Stone’s) finished fourth. Marketed as “cranberry sauce with Port,” this British import provoked a love-it-orhate-it response. “Wow! Vinegar! Interesting!” “Has the sweet/tart qualities of a chutney — very good, if that’s what you want.” On the other end: “Tastes pickled!” and “Weird.” Two would buy, one might and two would not.
Rounding out the top five was New England Cranberry ($7.99 for 12 ounces at Mollie Stone’s), which also split the panel. While the sauce had a “good acid/sugar balance” and “mild cranberry flavor,” its texture wasn’t for everyone. “Juicy” to some; “watery” and “mushy” to others. Again, two would buy, one might and two would not. Janny Hu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. For past Taster’s Choice columns, go to sfgate.com/ food/tasters/archive. E-mail: jhu@sfchronicle. com Twitter: @janny_hu