Africa’s Finest

Pictured: My housemate Jo holding this strange, delightful specimen

When my dear friend Alex Newman (pictured holding the Lidl jar) announced he was coming over with a ‘niche peanut butter’, I didn’t know what to expect. 

From a South London off licence comes ‘Africa’s Finest’ peanut butter, boasting no added sugar and – unbeknownst to us – no crunchy pieces either. Opening the plastic, big (500g!) jar was like cracking a can of paint, and the consistency was exactly that. The knife flowed effortlessly in to the nutty nectar like Excalibur in to the stone, but came out like at the hand of King Arthur himself. Enveloping the knife not unlike honey, it was an effort not to spill this everywhere on the short journey to the toast. It spread like a free spirit, desperate to cover the breadth of the toast, and called to mind the satisfying feeling of pouring paint in to a roller tray. Enter my mouth, the roller. 

The first bite didn’t hold back, the peanut butter exploding like a water bomb in to every corner of the mouth. However, it didn’t stick my teeth together, being so fluid that it flowed straight down, leaving only a pleasant reminder. 

No added sugar – no jokes! This peanut butter scores very low on the saltsweet scale but – importantly – not because of over salting. The flavour is mild, like a tender jazz band in the background of a classy restaurant (the classy restaurant being the muffin we ate it on); really nice when you sit and listen to it with some great styles going on, but it doesn’t interrupt your conversation. It’s not a headline act, but a support act you’ll definitely look up later. 

This is unlike any peanut butter I’ve had before and certainly unlike what I thought I would choose or even might buy again – but I’ve a sneaking suspicion that after this jar is gone and other reviews are done, this is one peanut butter I’ll be seeking out with a curious interest. This brings new meaning to the name ‘peanut butter’. More like peanut flavoured butter. Fabulous. 

Salty/sweet scale: 2.5

Texture – decadent, painty, loyal.

7.5/10 Henrys

£1.69 for a 500g jar (£0.34 per 100g)