We won't argue with Waitrose on this one. Dairy Butter is definitely an essential.
We're very lucky to have Waitrose here in Dubai, even if it is more expensive than it is in the UK. That being said, their own brand butters are very nice and consistently available.
What always strikes us about Waitrose is that their butter selection, even in the Dubai Mall, tends to be very small. Lurpak, President and Waitrose own brands tend to comprise the entire Real Butter choices... which are then disproportionately padded out with margarines and spreads.
Is that what the middle class expat consumer is really after? We'll have the Real Butter, please.
Essential Waitrose & Partners Unsalted Dairy Butter Appreciation
Butter Break Down
Appreciation Date: May 24, 2021
Country of Origin: UK (England)
Point of Procurement: Waitrose Motor City, Dubai
Purchase State: Fresh
Milk: Cow, pasteurised
Salt Content: None
Milk Fat Content: 82%
Ingredients: Butter (Milk)
Company Website: www.waitrose.com
Butter Evaluation
In which we discuss Essential Waitrose & Partners Unsalted Dairy butter.
We cannot believe the texture of this stuff. Even at room temperature in Dubai, it's almost *hard*. You could almost slice it. (Our housemates were so happy they could have butter instead of butter soup on toast!)
According to the paint chips, this one is Jotun's 'Old Cream' which we find slightly offensive. It's a beautiful solid pale yellow, with a low gloss and no translucent oxidation.
The aroma of this butter is slightly interesting. This was our first noticeable packaging interference and we were confused why the butter smelled slightly metallic, especially an unsalted one.
The taste, though, certainly makes up for a lack of dairy on the nose. Our notes indicate that it was very clean and milky and lovely with no packaging interference once it was in the mouth. It has a slight sweetness to it, and invoked feelings of drinking little bottles of milk during breaks at school long ago. Full on nostalgia.
The milkiness lingers on the palate with good pervasiveness and the mouthfeel is substantial and holds up well. What is excellent is that it coats the mouth and makes itself known but doesn't get claggy or fatty.
This one is excellent for enjoying on bread or with charcuterie!
Final Rundown
Despite the aroma troubles, we really enjoyed this butter. Its milkiness is unique and real notes of sweetness in butter is rare. The texture as well helps comp the aroma deficiencies.
Colour: Pale yellow.
Aroma: Metallic
Taste: Milk with sweet notes