The best of Valais - is that really the case?
31.1.2019
Translation: machine translated
An aperitif platter with 300 grams of dried meat from the charming canton in the south-west of Switzerland: yes, Galaxus has that too. I tried it out for myself to see how it arrives, looks and tastes.
"With the Natura aperitif platter, you can enjoy a selection of high-quality dried meat specialities from the heart of Valais, refined by hand using traditional methods and masterfully seasoned - a highlight for any aperitif, predestined as a fine starter and unique as a gift." This is how Natura advertises its small but exquisite selection of dried meat. As I love platters like this and my mouth is watering just looking at the picture, I want to experience for myself how the delicacies taste.
Delivery
Delivery should take three to five days, as the goods were in stock at the supplier when I ordered. I ordered the whole thing on a Friday, and the following Wednesday the disc was in front of me. It looks surprisingly appealing, considering that it has travelled a long way by post. The meat looks like it's fresh out of the packaging - not a trace of the arduous transport route. Will it also taste delicious?
Contents
The platter contains dried meat, raw ham, raw bacon and raw sausage - all from Valais, of course. Decorations such as herbs, vegetables or other accessories are completely missing. It's really just the plastic plate in a matt gold colour and the four types of dried meat just mentioned. That doesn't bother me, because I ordered meat and no side dishes. Logically, some packaging material is also included.
Flavour
For the taste test, I asked some of my friends for their feedback. Below you can read what my chosen panel of experts have to say about the dried meat
.
Philipp
"A roll of air-dried Valais bacon is quite something. It might well tempt me to order one online. However, one of the deciding factors for me would be how much a comparable slab costs in a shop."
Tobias
"The meat: The bacon and sausage are definitely not standard products, but have a great flavour. The packaging: Well, in my opinion, it's a bit of a clunker. The plastic plate - even if golden - is simply shabby, cheap and rubbishy. A wooden board would look very different."
Anne
"The meat is very good and of high quality. There are hardly any nerve or fat fibres on or in the meat. The slices are on the thicker side, but as the meat is very tender, it didn't bother me. I really enjoyed the dried meat and the cured ham."
Simon
"The raw sausage and bacon are sensational. The dry-cured ham is too dry around the edges for my taste. The dried meat is nice and spicy. The price is high, but the quality justifies the price."
Alex
"The meat was fine. Whether it would be worth 46 to me, I don't know. At 300 grams, that gives you an approximate price per kilo of 150 francs, which is quite a lot... but I didn't taste a big difference to the dried meat from Migros."
Natalie
"As for the bacon, I found it very tasty, but I have to admit that I don't have the palate to tell the difference in quality. That's probably why I'm not a potential customer, even though I'm generally in favour of spending more money on good meat."
Michael
"The meat didn't leave me with a dry impression at all, on the contrary. The raw sausage could have been a bit more hung to my taste. It tasted okay, but I probably wouldn't be able to tell it apart from a cheap product. And I wouldn't think of ordering a ready-made platter online. I'd have to think more than two hours in advance about what I'd be offering guests."
Stefania
"I tried a slice of dried meat. The flavour was okay, but I didn't notice any difference to the normal Migros meat. I certainly wouldn't order something like this online, and certainly not for 46 francs..."
David
"The meat was very, very fine - better in flavour than Coop or Migros. It didn't "crumble", which can sometimes happen with the big retailers. In some cases, the sliced meats in particular have a lot of fat streaks, which make the whole thing less appetising than the available variants. What's more, the "simpler" cold cuts are usually tougher than the premium variety. Personally, I would rather buy the whole thing in the shop: You somehow perceive it fresher there. However, I would consider such a platter for important visitors such as parents or in-laws."
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A small thank-you note in the form of a letter is enclosed with the disc - I like this personal element.Conclusion
Personally, I am particularly impressed by the bacon, raw ham and raw sausage. The latter in particular tastes excellent and is flavoured with spices that I have never eaten in this combination before. The cured ham is also excellent: the slices are slightly thicker than usual, but tender as butter - just the way I like it. I'm more of a fan of fried bacon, but the way the raw bacon is presented on this platter more than appeals to me.
The delivery surprised me: with a predicted delivery time of three to five working days, it arrived on my table within three days. I know how parcel post sometimes handles parcels, which is why I was surprised by the neat presentation on the golden plastic plate. However, like my colleague Tobias, I also think that a wooden board would look more attractive. But you can imagine what that would mean for the otherwise already high price.
All in all, the quality of the meat more than convinced me. I could see clear differences between ordinary dried meat from the shop. The presentation could still be improved, for example with an elegant wooden plate. The price is too high for me. Even if the meat is not a 08-15 product, 150 francs per kilo is too much. Nevertheless, I could very well imagine this platter as part of a special occasion.
Header image: The object of my desire: the aperitif platter with Natura's Valais dried meat specialties.
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.
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