ON your marks, get set . . . for classic pud jelly making a big comeback in shops.
One homeware retailer has reported a 500 per cent increase in sales of jelly moulds as the trend catches on.
Laura Stott tests different ready-made supermarket jelly pots[/caption]
But when it comes to the supermarket ready-made offerings, which pots deliver the best taste trembles?
Laura Stott rates them out of five.
Raspberry Jelly (3 x 150g), £3.75, M&S
These M&S pots of jelly are a much more grown-up version of the nostalgic pudding[/caption]
THESE little vegetarian-friendly pots of jelly are a much more grown-up version of the nostalgic pudding and are great to keep in your fridge for a handy adult treat.
Each one is made with flavoursome raspberry jelly, and there are absolutely loads of generous hunks of real fruit throughout the tubs.
Sweet, juicy and ideal for a light snack in the evening.
RATING: 4/5
Dole Strawberry With Mixed Fruit, (4 x 93g), £1.90, Sainsbury’s
Dole Strawberry With Mixed Fruit has no added sugar and is full of Vitamin C[/caption]
SMALL and compact, these are good for on-the-go lunches and adding to school bags or to the fridge as something to grab quickly.
Made with strawberry purée and juice blended from concentrate, they are really fruity and have a satisfying thick texture.
Plus there’s no added sugar.
One pot easily met the need for just a taste of something sweet without overindulging.
They’re full of vitamin C, too.
RATING: 3/5
Hartley’s Cherry Bakewell Tart, (1 x 175g), 50p, Asda
I rated these pots poorly[/caption]
THESE individual pots – which contain a minuscule ten calories per portion – appear to be aimed mainly at dieters who want a sugary treat or dessert.
The flavour wasn’t one I’d choose to tuck into again.
The Bakewell tang was very artificial and strange – and it reminded me more of eating sweets from a bag than enjoying a tasty cake.
RATING: 1/5
Ms Molly’s Jelly And Custard (3 x 125g), 99p, Tesco
Ms Molly’s was on the sweet side, but does taste of the berries it’s made of[/caption]
NOW this is what I call a nostalgic dessert.
Made with sweet strawberry-flavoured jelly and a smooth custard powder-style layer on top, it is as retro a dessert pot as you’ll find in the fridge aisle – and all the better for it.
Lovely tasty jelly – which is on the sweet side, but does taste of the berries it’s made of – and offers a satisfying wobble.
RATING: 4/5
Jelly & Custard (3 x 125g), 99p, Lidl
These Lidl pots of Jelly & Custard will satisfy scoffers of all ages[/caption]
WHEN it comes to taste, these almost edged it in the test.
Yummy jelly with an excellent wobble ratio, and there are near-equal amounts of fruity gel and smooth topping so you get a good mixed mouthful every time.
Guaranteed to satisfy scoffers of all ages, these are a super all-rounder to pop in the fridge – then watch disappear quickly.
Great value for money, too.
RATING: 5/5
Mandarin & Orange Jelly (4 x 120g), £1.80, Tesco
Flavoursome and fantastic value, these offerings are a brilliant buy[/caption]
THESE great little pots can be stored in a cupboard and don’t need to be kept in the fridge, which makes them a useful and economical standby sweet treat.
The bright orange colour was rather off-putting, but the flavour was actually very fruity and natural tasting.
Flavoursome and fantastic value, these offerings are a brilliant buy.
RATING: 5/5 – WINNER
Wibble Strawberry & Vanilla Jelly, (1 x 150g), £1, Tesco
Not the best value for money, but Wibble jelly pots do taste very nice[/caption]
THESE smart-looking plant-based pots are made with 23 per cent real strawberry juice, so they are full of natural goodness and nice flavours.
You really can taste the berries in each mouthful, which was very nice indeed.
There are no artificial flavourings or sweeteners so you don’t need to feel guilty either.
Not the best value for money, but they do taste very nice.
RATING: 3/5
Raspberry Jelly (1 x 175g), 54p, Asda
This individual pot of jelly looked sad in the fridge[/caption]
IT was hard to get excited about this little individual pot of jelly, which looked rather sad in the fridge.
A washed-out, watery, pale pink in the container, it lacked any vibrancy in colour.
And on peeling back the lid, the smell was disappointing too, with a somewhat chemical and artificial aroma.
Unless you drown it with custard or ice cream, sadly it will be rather taste-free.
RATING: 1/5
