Global Peanut Butter Taste Test: Discovering the Best

Welcome to the Taste Test Channel! In this article, we'll be taking an impartial look at popular peanut butter brands from around the world to see how some of the bestselling varieties differ in taste. I'll also be trying my first-ever peanut butter and jelly sandwich with today's winner. I'll admit, I've never had one before, so I'm slightly nervous about it.

Our Lineup

Today, we have:

• Jif (USA): The world's number one peanut butter.
• Salling (Denmark): An organic, natural option.
• Skippy (USA): Another American favorite.
• Bega (Australia): Australia's top choice.
• Pintola (India): A fast-growing homegrown brand.
• Sun-Pat (UK): A long-established UK favorite.

As always, we'll be awarding our Taste Test Channel Best-in-Class award to the winner. If you're new here, don't forget to subscribe and ring the bell so you don't miss any of our regular taste tests!

Peanut Butter Around the World

Peanut butter can evoke strong feelings. Some love it, some hate it, and some just have it in the cupboard, ignored most of the year. Your opinion might depend on where you live. While it's available globally, some countries like Japan and much of France find the idea abhorrent. Europeans eat less than a tablespoon a year, while Americans consume around three pounds annually, often in the form of the famous PB&J sandwich. The average American school kid is said to have eaten about 2,000 PB&Js before graduating high school.

A Brief History

Peanut butter has been around for longer than you might think. The Incas and Aztecs ground roasted peanuts into a paste centuries ago. Its modern form began in the late 1800s, with the first patent going to a Canadian chemist in 1884. Despite its name, there's no butter in it—just ground roasted peanuts, often with added oil, sugar, and salt. The quantities, grinding and blanching processes, types of oils, and seasoning can dramatically affect the taste and texture.

Our Criteria

For this test, we chose crunchy versions and original recipes where multiple options were available. While there are many brands out there, we included some of the most popular from around the world. Here's a look at the price, nutritional content, and taste.

Price

Prices vary, and while we ignore delivery charges, import duties may affect costs depending on your location. The price per 100 grams is shown below:

• Bega from Australia is the most expensive.
• Skippy, available in the UK, is the cheapest.

Nutritional Content

Peanut butter is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, but also high in fat and calories. Here's a look at the brands by energy content per 100 grams:

• Sun-Pat (UK) has the most energy.
• Jif (USA) has the least.

Fat and Sugar Content

• Bega (Australia) and Sun-Pat (UK) have the most fat.
• Skippy (USA) has the least fat.
• Skippy tops the sugar content, while Salling (Denmark) has no added sugars.
• Bega has the most salt, and Pintola (India) has the least.

Tasting Notes

Jif (USA)

• Light, whipped texture.
• Melts in the mouth with a balance of salt and sweetness.
• Crunchy, flavorful nuts.

Salling (Denmark)

• Runny and oily, but sticky.
• Earthy, slightly bitter flavor with small nut chunks.
• Only peanuts and salt, no added sugars.

Skippy (USA)

• Light and creamy but stickier than Jif.
• Sweeter, with a good nutty flavor and crunchy pieces.

Bega (Australia)

• Thick and cloying, with a noticeable vegetable oil flavor.
• Subtle sugar but overly salty.

Pintola (India)

• Needs stirring before use.
• Sweet, with a good mouthfeel once mixed.
• Low salt, but too sweet for my taste.

Sun-Pat (UK)

• Thick, fudgy texture.
• Rich, nutty flavor with a variety of nut chunk sizes.
• Well-balanced seasoning.

Conclusion and Winner

For this taste test, here are our top three picks:

1. Jif (USA): The best overall with a light texture, balanced seasoning, and crunchy nuts.
2. Sun-Pat (UK): Best peanut flavor and a thick texture for those who like a mouth workout.
3. Skippy (USA): Light and creamy with a slightly sweeter note.

Trying My First PB&J

As promised, I'll be trying my first-ever peanut butter and jelly sandwich using Jif. PB&Js are not common in the UK, and the combination seems strange to me, but here goes! I'm using Smucker's strawberry jelly for the full American experience. The verdict? It's an odd mix of sweet and savory, with a texture that I'm not used to, but it's an interesting experience.