Hans Old Style Liverwurst

Taste

I think this liverwurst from Hans just wins out over the Don Latvian Liverwurst. There is a bit more depth and liver flavour, but otherwise, it’s a good well rounded product, perfect for a Vietnamese pork roll!

Rating - 7.5

Look

There’s a bit of that old style feel to the packaging, with a mainly black and white motif. Once you’ve opened it it’s best to finish as soon as possible though.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

250g for around $2.50

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 10

Ingredients

pork (59%), pork liver (22%), water, salt herbs, spices, dextrose, mineral salts, milk solid non fat, vegetable oil, antioxidant, flavour enhancer, egetable powder, sodium nitrate, natural onion flavour, red wine

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Don Latvian Liverwurst

Taste

A bit less intensive than the Hans Oldstyle but this one is actually from Don, and is not bad either. It’s more creamy and spread like, with a milder liver taste.

Rating - 6.5

Look

Yellow and red being the main colour, otherwise, it looks just like the Old style one.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

100g for $1.59

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 9.5

Ingredients

meat (94% including 31% liver), salt, whey powder, hydrogenised plant protein, spices and spice extracts, dehydrated vegetables, gelatine, dextrose, antioxidant, wheat flour, flavouring, sodium nitrate, flour enhancer

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Tasmanian Pate Christmas Pack

Taste

I got a special Christmas Pack, which means I get turkey, a heavenly pate that's a bit of a change from the boring old chicken liver that's usually available. The flavour is more delicate. The smoked salmon brings together the Christmas theme with seafood. This is is a bit less successful than the turkey, with a heavy hand on the cream cheese. Still, it's quite a good product. I wish you can get this at other times besides Christmas.

Rating - 7.5

Look

A twin pack. They look beautiful presented together, but it means it's much harder to store. Each pate is topped with its distinctive topping, they will look beautiful on any cheese platter.

Rating - 2

C-factor

150g for $1.99, a total bargain!

Rating - 2

Swiss Points - 11.5

Ingredients

Turkey

turkey liver, lard, onions, gelatine, herbs, juniper berries, chives, almonds ,bell peppers, salt, pepper, preservatives, water

smoked salmon

cream cheese, smoke salmon (30%), tomato paste, gelatine, taroma (smoked flavour), salt, citric acid, bell peppers, chives, caramel flavour, water

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Tasmanian Pate Cracked Pepper

Taste

One of the best pates on the market I have to say. The pate was complex and "livery" enough for my liking, the pepper adding a nice sting but not overpowering, the pate was creamy and smooth.

Rating - 7.5

Look

I really like the look of pate. This one is in the standard rectangular packaging where you peel back some plastics and eat, nothing out of the ordinary. It's hard to store, but it would look nice on a platter.

Rating - 1

C-factor

125g for $3.99. It's cheap and better than some of the other stuff that's more expensive in the supermarket.

Rating - 1.5

Swiss Points - 10

Ingredients

chicken liver, lard, onions, butter, gelatine, pepper, salt, herbs, preservatives

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere

Maggie Beer Pheasant Farm Pate

Taste

This pate from the famous Maggie Beer range is sweeter than others. It comes in a round tub instead of the rectangular slab. It doesn't hold its shape but is more mousse like. The pate itself is great, but I don't really enjoy the whole berries that are buried in the pate instead of just on the jelly on top. I found the jelly is a bit sweet and come off in chunks.

Rating - 6.5

Look

The prettiest of the lot. It comes in a black, non see through tub. Best of all, it's easily resealed for any unfinished product - and who can eat this in one go? The jelly layer was a light champagne colour and very pretty. Maggie has also printed her philosophy on the side of the box.

Rating - 2

C-factor

220g for $6.99, about on par for pate, and it's a great price for the quality.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - 9.5

Ingredients

poultry liver (33%), port, margarin,e thickened cream, water, egg, onion, thickener, garlic, spices, juniper berries, salt

Available At

Supermarkets, gourmet food stores

Harris Farm Pate

Taste

I tried the Duckling and Brandied Apricot. At first taste, I wasn't very impressed, it was bitter and overly alcoholic, but once I was warmed to the taste however, I was quite impress. This pate is more subtle than the normal chicken liver pate. It's not as bold in flavour and has a more gamey taste. Made by Just Entrees, the apricot jelly was actually quite bitter and very nice.

I also tried the Duck Liver & Mandarin. This one has a strong pate taste, but the mandarin made it bitter. Still, much better than the supermarket stuff.

Rating - Apricot - 7.5, Mandarin - 7.5

Look

Quite pretty, if you like the look of pate! I had a piece cut from a great log.

Rating - 1.5

C-factor

$18.99/kg for the Duckling, $22.99/kg for the Mandarin, not a bad price to pay for pate.

Rating - 1

Swiss Points - Apricot - 10, Mandarin - 10

Ingredients

Apricot

duck liver (64%), onion, margarine, port (3%), brandy (3%), apricots, gelatine, orange juice, apricot nectar, garlic, salt, pepper, herbs, preservative

Mandarin

duck liver, margarine, onions, cream, herbs, slices, gelatine, mandarin essence, salt, preservatives, antioxidant, water

Available At

Harris Farm Markets
Website

Ronda-epicure with Edge Pate

Taste

I tried theMaison first. I expected this to have a strong taste of alcohol, but it was not the case at all. In fact, it did not taste strongly of anything, including liver, which, for me, is the whole point of having pate. The texture was also a bit dry and the jelly top also tasteless...

I did warn Slokky about buying another of their pate, but he didn't listen, so I sneaked a taste of their Green peppercorn and cognac to see if that Maison was a one off. Alas, I should have gone with my instinct, this one still has no taste, but the green peppercorn sure gives it a sting, to the point of being overpowering.

Rating - 4.5

Look

Unlike others who don't like the colour, I always like the look of pate. This one came prettily packaged. You peel the backing, run a knife around the ages, and serve. Easy really.

Rating - 2.5

C-factor

150g for $4.60. I've had better.

Rating - 0

Swiss Points - 7

Ingredients

Maison

chicken liver (53.47%), chicken stock, butter, onions, potato starch, soy isolate, food acids, salt, seasoning, Maison

Green peppercorn

chicken liver (53.47%), chicken stock, butter, onions, potato starch, sultana, soy isolate, cognac (.71%), green & black peppercorns (.53%), food acids, salt, garlic

Available At

Supermarkets everywhere