Value for money

Soup

Amy’s Kitchen Chunky Tomato soup €2.25 for 411g

We thought we would include a canned option to see how it would compare with all the supposed freshness on offer elsewhere. We have to admit we were not expecting much from Amy, not least because we though the price tag was way too high. We were, however, most surprised with the results of our taste test. This very chunky soup, made with commendably few ingredients, is absolutely gorgeous and has a freshness that we were not expecting at all. As the only canned soup, this has an obvious advantage in that it will last for months in your cupboard. Be careful where you buy it, though – prices can vary by more than 20 per cent.

Verdict:An unlikely winner

Star rating:****

Fallon & Byrne €3.50 for 400g

While its rivals promise a homemade taste, Fallon and Byrne actually deliver on the promise without making any such claims. This is rather lovely. The roasted tomatoes and peppers lend this a sweetness that is not to be found elsewhere. It has a gorgeously rich and creamy texture and a wonderful freshness to it that is hard not to love. It is easy not to love the price, however. It is by some margin the most expensive of the soups we tried on this occasion and, while it is probably the best, were not sure we could justify the spend on a frequent basis.

Verdict: Lovely, pricey

Star rating: ***

Centra Tomato and Basil Soup €2.19 for 400g

This looks very similar to the Cully and Sully soup, although the presence of full chewy basil leaves in the mix is something of a departure. It is a whole lot cheaper than the more upmarket brand it sits beside on the shelves of our local Centra. It does have a tomatoey taste, but the basil leaves are devoid of all flavour. The best word we can think of to describe this soup is thin – it is thin of texture and flavour, and despite the nice price we’re not sure we’d be rushing back to buy this.

Verdict: Cheap, bland

Star rating: ****

Avonmore Vine Ripened Tomato and Basil €2.19 for 400g

We are promised the “taste of homemade” on the carton, but homemade what? It certainly doesnt taste that much of tomatoes and lacks anything by way of zestiness. It doesn’t taste of basil either. All told, we found it to be just a little thin on flavour and weirdly reminiscent of thick gloopy baby food in texture. While this is not the finest soup we have ever tasted, it is okay and will certainly bring you a degree of comfort on a chilly day. It is very widely available.

Verdict: Grand

Star rating: ***

Cully and Sully Creamy Tomato Soup €2.74 for 400g

Haven’t Cully and Sully done rather well for themselves? Earlier this year they sold their charming little company to a major US brand, although the two boys will continue to manage the business here. We’re pretty sure the quality of this very pleasant, tangy tomato soup, made with a recipe borrowed from Ballymaloe, played a part in the sale. While it is not the best tasting of the soups we tried, it is very nice and has a creamy freshness that other companies would do well to replicate. It is also widely available and, while dearer than the rest, it is not shockingly expensive.

Verdict: Hard not to love

Star rating: ****