Test date: May 20, 2010
Tester: Michele and husband Marc
The following products were purchased at Fred Meyer or Trader Joe's.
MICHELE'S OPINION: Three things amazed me about this test: 1) the Trader Joe's seasoning was so, so spicy. Once we took a bite we could not taste anything else. I actually had to do this taste test twice, becuase the first time I did it I tried the Trader Joe's product first, and then everything else either tasted completely bland or I simply couldn't taste it at all. 2) there is an amazing amount of salt in many of these products. At 2 tsp per serving, and 6 servings per packet, the saltiest product in this test, Old El Paso, packs 3480 mg per packet! Amazing. Simply not worth wasting your entire daily recommended intake of salt (1500 mg) on one meal. 3) Oregano! Who puts oregano in their tacos?! That was shocking to me. I'm no expert on Mexican (or American-style Mexican) food, but that seems very strange. Read on for more details on price, nutrition, and taste:
PRICE COMPARISON FOR 1.25OZ OF SEASONING:
$1.24 Old El Paso
$1.20 Lawry's
$0.99 Taco Bell
$0.79 Trader Joe's
$0.67 Kroger brand
$0.50 McCormick
1. Kroger taco seasoning: This seasoning is very salty. It has a light smokey flavor and low seasoning/ flavor in general.
2. McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Mix: This is spicier than the Kroger seasoning mix but has less flavor overall. There is too much oregano; the flavor is too overpowering compared to the other ingredients. This seasoning is also pretty salty.
3. Taco Bell Taco Seasoning: This seasoning has a pretty intense smoky flavor and packs some heat but is not spicy. Marc can taste a hint of a pepper as well.
4. Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix: This seasoning is amazingly salty! It also has a bit of a tomato-ey flavor, but overall is not very tasty.
5. Lawry's Taco Spices & Seasonings: This seasoning also has too much oregano, which makes it taste a bit funky.
6. Trader Joe's Taco Seasoning Mix: This seasoning is by far the spiciest of the three, we can hardly taste anything else after we've eaten this. It is also very peppery. I should also note that this seasoning packet calls for a can of tomato sauce, while for all of the others you only need to add water.
NUTRITIONAL NOTES: All products have virtually the same calorie count, with 15 or 20 calories per 2tsp. Fat content is also zero to minimal in all choices. However, sodium content varies widely, from 330mg per 2tsp for Lawry's all the way up to 580mg per 2tsp for Old El Paso. Taco Bell is the second best option in terms of salt, with 370mg per 2tsp, and the remaining three products range from 420mg to 520mg per 2tsp.
TASTE WINNER: Taco Bell Seasoning Mix - This seasoning is not too bland, not too spicy and is relatively low in terms of salt content. It's one of the two most expensive options, but I think that a couple of extra cents is worth it! If you love nothing more than spicy foods though, then Trader Joe's is your best bet.
Tester: Michele and husband Marc
The following products were purchased at Fred Meyer or Trader Joe's.
MICHELE'S OPINION: Three things amazed me about this test: 1) the Trader Joe's seasoning was so, so spicy. Once we took a bite we could not taste anything else. I actually had to do this taste test twice, becuase the first time I did it I tried the Trader Joe's product first, and then everything else either tasted completely bland or I simply couldn't taste it at all. 2) there is an amazing amount of salt in many of these products. At 2 tsp per serving, and 6 servings per packet, the saltiest product in this test, Old El Paso, packs 3480 mg per packet! Amazing. Simply not worth wasting your entire daily recommended intake of salt (1500 mg) on one meal. 3) Oregano! Who puts oregano in their tacos?! That was shocking to me. I'm no expert on Mexican (or American-style Mexican) food, but that seems very strange. Read on for more details on price, nutrition, and taste:
PRICE COMPARISON FOR 1.25OZ OF SEASONING:
$1.24 Old El Paso
$1.20 Lawry's
$0.99 Taco Bell
$0.79 Trader Joe's
$0.67 Kroger brand
$0.50 McCormick
1. Kroger taco seasoning: This seasoning is very salty. It has a light smokey flavor and low seasoning/ flavor in general.
2. McCormick Original Taco Seasoning Mix: This is spicier than the Kroger seasoning mix but has less flavor overall. There is too much oregano; the flavor is too overpowering compared to the other ingredients. This seasoning is also pretty salty.
3. Taco Bell Taco Seasoning: This seasoning has a pretty intense smoky flavor and packs some heat but is not spicy. Marc can taste a hint of a pepper as well.
4. Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix: This seasoning is amazingly salty! It also has a bit of a tomato-ey flavor, but overall is not very tasty.
5. Lawry's Taco Spices & Seasonings: This seasoning also has too much oregano, which makes it taste a bit funky.
6. Trader Joe's Taco Seasoning Mix: This seasoning is by far the spiciest of the three, we can hardly taste anything else after we've eaten this. It is also very peppery. I should also note that this seasoning packet calls for a can of tomato sauce, while for all of the others you only need to add water.
NUTRITIONAL NOTES: All products have virtually the same calorie count, with 15 or 20 calories per 2tsp. Fat content is also zero to minimal in all choices. However, sodium content varies widely, from 330mg per 2tsp for Lawry's all the way up to 580mg per 2tsp for Old El Paso. Taco Bell is the second best option in terms of salt, with 370mg per 2tsp, and the remaining three products range from 420mg to 520mg per 2tsp.
TASTE WINNER: Taco Bell Seasoning Mix - This seasoning is not too bland, not too spicy and is relatively low in terms of salt content. It's one of the two most expensive options, but I think that a couple of extra cents is worth it! If you love nothing more than spicy foods though, then Trader Joe's is your best bet.
I'm with you. Who puts oregano in taco mix.......also you see it in Salsa......such a poor choice of spices for Mexican flavored food. Even Italians rarely use oregano unless in pizza sauce. Americans think if they use oregano they are making an Italian dish..........Real Italians don't use oregano...........
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