WHEN making gravy to accompany a roast dinner or a midweek pie, most people look for convenience and speed, and that’s where gravy granules come into the own.
Simply boil the kettle, pour hot water over the granules, give it a stir and there it is - gravy. Granules revolutionised gravy making, removing the need for meat juices and a saucepan, both of which are needed using gravy powder.
I was surprised to discover that granules were introduced to the UK as recently as 1979 by the best-known gravy brand Bisto. It became an instant hit.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the brand expanded to include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef and onion varieties.
By the 2000s, Bisto Gravy Granules captured over 70 per cent of the British gravy market, remaining a staple of the British Sunday roast.
I put seven varieties to the test - all are suitable for vegetarians, the majority for vegans as well. I pitted them against market leader Bisto. The results came a shock.
Morrisons does not feature here as I could not find any general gravy granules, only those specific to certain meats.
*Coop Cook’s Kitchen Gravy Granules, 170g, 70p
An appealing dark brown colour and a nice, thick consistency, although it took longer than stated on the tub to dissolve. It had no smell to speak of, and, didn’t have any flavour other than a hint of salt - very bland.
Pros: appearance.
Cons: taste.
Mark: 2/5
*Stockwell & Co Gravy Granules, Tesco, 200g, 45p
Light brown in colour and, with a few small flecks within the gravy remaining after it dissolved, it looked homemade, which was a good start. But things went downhill from here – it had a slightly ‘off’ smell - like sweaty socks, and tasted like liquid cardboard. I wouldn’t want this on my Sunday roast. Cheap, but definitely not cheerful.
Pros: price.
Cons: smell, taste.
Mark: 1/5
*Bisto Gravy Granules, 190g, £2.95 (Tesco)
This dissolved really well and had an appetising, rich, reddy-brown colour and pleasant, slightly herby aroma - I could smell it from a few paces away. As for flavour, it didn’t live up to expectations. As for flavour, it tasted a little salty and had an artificial edge to it. Very expensive compared with the others.
Pros: appearance, aroma.
Cons: price.
Mark: 2/5
Coop Cooks Kitchen
Bisto
*Asda Just Essentials Gravy Granules, 200g, 45p
A change from the Bisto-style red tub, this is presented in cheap-looking yellow packaging. The gravy didn’t dissolve too well - there were a few claggy lumps in it, until I gave it another vigorous stir. It was a good rich brown colour, with a very slight savoury smell. Sadly, it tasted like liquid cardboard. Not quite as bad as Stockwell, but not far off. Yuk - I wouldn’t want this, even at 45p.
Pros: appearance (colour), price.
Cons: consistency, taste.
Mark: 1/5
*Newgate Gravy Granules, Lidl, 300g, 99p
With its steaming gravy design, the tub bore had a hint of the Bisto packaging. This dissolved well to a rich brown colour with a reasonably thick consistency. It had no aroma at all, but the savoury taste, while mild, wasn’t bad. I’d be quite happy to pour this over my Yorkshire puddings. This is a good price for a tub this size.
Pros: appearance, consistency, taste, price.
Cons: smell - lack of.
Mark: 3/5
Sainsbury's Stamford Street (Image: Newsquest)
Bramwells Quixo Gravy Granules, Aldi
*Sainsbury’s Stamford Street Gravy Granules, 170g, 40p
Another yellow tub, but a bit less cheap-looking than Asda Essentials. This dissolved nicely, leaving odd small flecks rather like homemade gravy. It also had a pleasant, slightly oniony aroma. I had my hopes up, but taste did not live up to the appearance/smell - it was very boxy, quite unpleasant.
Pros: appearance, aroma, price.
Cons: taste.
Mark: 1/5
*Bramwells Quixo Gravy Granules, Aldi, 300g, 99p
A good price for a large tub. This dissolved well into a dark brown, OXO-like consistency. It was very smooth, and had no smell but had a likeable, slightly meaty (although it is vegan) flavour. I liked it, and it’s great value for a large tub.
Pros: consistency, taste, price.
Cons: none.
Mark: 4/5