It was the tasting of tastings on Thursday in Den Bosch. At stake was the title of tastiest Bossche bol. Bakery Smaak, Korengoud De Echte Bakker, Bakkerij Royal and Jan de Groot each supplied their own bun. Which delicacy is the tastiest?
In the kitchen of Secret Bar in the center of our capital, the four different delicacies are neatly cut into quarters. Meanwhile, eleven enthusiastic tasters are sitting at a table in Den Bosch. They have signed up to determine together which Bossche Bol is the tastiest. This is done with a blindfold, because it is purely about the taste.
“I think these are Jan de Groot’s buns,” says Hans Schoonen with some whipped cream hanging from his nose after he has put the first of the four pastries in his mouth. “I have doubts, because I think the whipped cream is different,” responds another taster.
It is precisely this discussion that is important for Eric Maas of Bakkerij Smaak. He invented the great Bossche Bollen Taste Test. “I’m always working on flavors and there is so much chatter about what a tasty Bossche Bol is. That’s why we’re just going to test it.”
“I think this is a sticky ball.”
The eleven tasters can go wild on the score sheet after each round. Afterwards there will be a final score. And then the second round is served with Bossche Bollen. The blindfolds are put back on and where there was extensive discussion just now, it is now completely silent. The. is concentrated sjeklade bol brought to the mouth by hand and the taste buds are put to work.
“I think this is a soggy bun. The dough is too soft and the whipped cream too thin. The chocolate was tasty,” says Saskia Beije, who also signed up. “I am a Bossche Bol myself. I grew up with it and worked in a bakery for a number of years. There was regular discussion there. There is no arguing about taste, because in my opinion you can never say that this is the tastiest if you have not tasted the rest.”
“I pay particular attention to the chocolate and the whipped cream could be a bit thicker.”
Schoonen also has baker’s blood in it. His two grandfathers were pastry chefs. “You almost have to. So when I heard about this idea, I immediately raised my hand. I especially pay attention to the chocolate, which I like a bit more bitter, and the whipped cream could be a bit thicker and fuller.”
After eating four rounds of pastries, it’s time for the results. Maas has added up all the scores and comes up with the redeeming word: “Our largest, most famous Bossche Bollen bakery Jan de Groot came out as the tastiest in your opinion.” Maas does not reveal the rest of the rankings, because he says he does not want to damage anyone. And whether this election leaves you wanting more and should it become the new Oliebollen test? “No, let’s keep this in the south. Maybe we’ll do the sausage rolls next,” he says with a smile on his face.
