... Instead of my usual bread, I opted for a loaf of 'Burgen Soya and Linseed' bread, mainly because it sounded intriguing and was reduced in price from £1.17 to 87p.
Burgen was not a brand I was that familiar with until recently. However, according to the company's website, the Soya and Linseed ... Read review
Advantages: Very tasty loaf, low GI, rich in calcium and high in fibre Disadvantages: Quite expensive compared to other breads
...to 87p.
Burgen was not a brand I was that familiar with until recently. However, according to the company's website, the Soya and Linseed loaf has been sold in the UK since 1997, so is fairly well established. Since its introduction nine years ago, the Burgen brand has grown in popularity and as consumers have begun to embrace the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the brand has really taken off.
WHAT MAKES BURGEN DIFFERENT? ...as being a low-GI food, Burgen Soya and Linseed bread prides itself on being a rich source of plant oestrogens which may prove beneficial to women's health.
PACKAGING
The packaging has changed from the white and blue wrapper pictured above to a more neutral clear plastic bag with a plethora of grains and seeds scattered over the sides. A dark brown circular stamp, bearing the 'Burgen' name, is embossed across the front ... more
The supermarket shop can get quite monotonous at the best of times and the worst thing is not knowing what else to buy for a change. How many of us buy the same brands week in week out without giving it a second thought..? I'm sure everyone is guilty of this. I normally buy Morrisons own label wholemeal bread simply because it tastes good and is cheap. However, whilst shopping today, I thought I'd have a change. Instead of my usual bread, I opted for a loaf of 'Burgen Soya and Linseed' bread, mainly because it sounded intriguing and was reduced in price from £1.17 to 87p.
Burgen was not a brand I was that familiar with until recently. However, according to the company's website, the Soya and Linseed loaf has been sold in the UK since 1997, so is fairly well established. Since its introduction nine years ago, the Burgen brand has grown in popularity and as consumers have begun to embrace the importance of a healthy lifestyle, the brand has really taken off.
WHAT MAKES BURGEN DIFFERENT?
Burgen's Soya and Linseed loaf is no ordinary wholemeal bread. It is packed with natural grains, such as wheat and linseed, and is rich in calcium and high in fibre. However, that, in itself, does not make it remarkably different from any other bread. What makes it really different is that it is a low-GI bread. GI or Glycaemic Index is a measure of how quickly our bodies absorb different carbohydrates. A low-GI bread is therefore one which sustains steady blood sugar levels to help you feel fuller for longer. Much has been said about the health benefits of low-GI foods in recent years by experts and dieticians, and most agree that such foods are highly beneficial to health.
As well as being a low-GI food, Burgen Soya and Linseed bread prides itself on being a rich source of plant oestrogens which may prove beneficial to women's health.
PACKAGING
The packaging has changed from the white and blue wrapper pictured above to a more neutral clear plastic bag with a plethora of grains and seeds scattered over the sides. A dark brown circular stamp, bearing the 'Burgen' name, is embossed across the front and sides of the packaging, and just underneath this are the words 'soya & linseed' in bold, orange writing. I think the packaging looks attractive and has a quality feel about it. It's always nice being able to see the bread inside for yourself, so you can get an idea of what it will be like before buying.
APPEARANCE & TASTE
When you first see the bread, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was white rather than brown. The bread is a strange colour - a shade somewhere between white and brown. There are lots of differently coloured seeds within the bread itself and it looks very tasty.
The bread is ideal for sandwiches or toasting. It tastes like a normal wholemeal bread, but is a lot more grainy and malty in taste. The seeds and grains give it a pleasant texture, although the seeds do tend to get stuck in your teeth, which can be a bit annoying!
The bread is light and quite fluffy - not stodgy like some breads can be. This means that you can eat several slices and still not feel full.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Per slice:
Energy - 110 kcal (calories) Protein - 6.4g Carbohydrate - 11.9g Fat - 4.0g Fibre - 2.7g Sodium - 0.12g Salt - 0.31g Calcium - 106mg (13% of Recommended Daily Allowance)
A daily serving is 4 slices.
ALLERGY INFORMATION
The bread contains wheat, soya and gluten. If you are allergic to any of these, it is best not to eat.
STORAGE ADVICE
The bag states that the bread should be stored in a cool, dry place, although refrigeration is not advised. The bread can be frozen but should be eaten within 3 months of the date of purchase.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
Burgen bread is very widely available and you will find it in all the main supermarkets, where it retails for £1.17. This is a lot for a loaf of bread, although you will often find it on a special offer, so it pays to make the most of these.
VERDICT...
I cannot recommend this bread high enough and it is probably one of the nicest breads I have tasted in many years. However, it is expensive - and too expensive, in my opinion. I will definitely buy it again, but will probably wait until I next see it on special offer.
Advantages: Absolutely delicious bread, very healthy Disadvantages: The price
...wanted to point out that Burgen have just changed their packaging for this bread and instead of the blue shown by ciao, it's now in a bag that has brown writing etc which in my opinion is far better. The blue looked cheap and nasty which the bread certainly isn't!
~ Price and Availability ~
I've seen this bread in Asda, Morrisons and Tesco but I'm sure all of the other major supermarkets will stock it.
At Tesco it is currently £1.08 for a standard ... ...too tasty!)
~ Other Burgen Breads ~
* Cholesterol
* Hi-Bran
~ Burgen ~
These breads are made by Allied Bakeries who are the largest bread producer in the UK, making Kingsmill, Allinson and Sunblest.
For more info visit www.burgen.co.uk
I wish they would lower the price but when Tesco do the BOGOF offer it's well worth you having a try of it, it is truly delicious for any bread fan! ...
neenn 04.03.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Burgen Soya and Linseed Bread
Advantages: Very tasty, low GI. Disadvantages: More expensive than some.
I am a fan of Burgen bread. I have eaten it for quite a long time, it is tasty and different. Burgen bread comes in Soya and Linseed and Wholegrain and Cranberry. The Cranberry is lovely (medium GI). I recommended it to my Mum, she loved it, but said it didn`t go with beans on toast! The Soya and Linseed is the one I buy mostly. It is low GI and full of seeded goodness.
* * * * *
The first thing that attracted my to Burgen, Soya and Linseed bread ... ...boring. I freeze my Burgen bread as I am the only person in the house who will eat it. The bread always comes out just as nice as when fresh. I toast it from frozen and I wouldn`t know the difference. If I take it to work, I butter the frozen slice and take the filling with me if in a rush. If not rushing, I leave a couple of slices out and it defrosts in around 15 minutes. I then make my sandwiches. I know that the taste, or texture, will not be ...
spottydog2 29.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Burgen Soya and Linseed Bread
Advantages: A tasty bread that's really good for you Disadvantages: More expensive than other multigrain breads
I first mentioned Burgen bread almost in passing as a tasty wrapping for fish finger sandwiches. But the bread is such a great product that it deserves a review of its own.
A SHORT AND PERSONAL HISTORY OF BREAD
I've never been a fan of packaged and sliced white bread simply because it has no taste. So for me sliced bread has got to be brown. My mum taught me to make bread when I was young and I still do this today. I'm always experimenting with ... ...while ago I stumbled on Burgen soya and linseed bread in Tescos; dutifully gave it a gentle squeeze, looked at the £1.03 price tag and nearly gave it a miss. After all I could still buy a decent brown loaf for a less costly 80p or so. Looking at the Burgen packaging I noticed that is was a low GI bread and I'd heard a little about this from an article on Anthony Worrell Thompson's diabetes and weight loss. Apparently low GI foods sustain blood sugar ...
britum2000 30.09.2006 (01.10.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Burgen Soya and Linseed Bread
Advantages: Delicious and great tasting Disadvantages: None
I came across Burgen Soya and Linseed bread in the supermarket. From the outside it looked very different to other breads and it also looked very appealing.
I think it was the fact that it was made with soya and linseed oil that caught my attention as I had recently been reading about the health benefits of linseed oil for women who were experiencing the menopause and its associated symptoms.
I decided to buy one and I am so glad I did. It is an ... ...and great tasting natural grains. It is also very moist.
I particulary like to make a sandwich with it packed with bananas! It is really scrumptious..... Indeed, it is tasty enough to eat without any filling or spread at all... The bread is very rich in calcium and very high in fibre. It is also a low-GI bread. As a result you feel fuller for longer and are less likely to snack. .
Low GI foods help to sustain steady blood sugar levels through slow ...
Krazikas 05.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Burgen Soya and Linseed Bread
