Whether it be eating it with Birnenbrot, toasting it under hot lamps and scraping it onto potatoes or melting it into a pot of lactose-based gold, people in Switzerland are simply crackers about cheese. Now, experts appearing on SRF television show Kassensturz have given their verdict as to the best and worst store-bought fondue available in Swiss supermarkets.

SRF seeks to find the best supermarket fondue in Switzerland

As part of the SRF show, Kassensturz invited a jury of cheese experts to try 12 different types of Swiss fondue that can be bought in local supermarkets. These ranged from ready-made fondues and cheese mixtures to long-lasting varieties and budget options. Each fondue was rated out of six for appearance (10 percent of the total score), smell (20 percent), aroma and taste (40 percent) and texture and finish (30 percent).

Some of the most popular cheese varieties and companies were part of the test, including Appenzeller and Emmi Kaltbach. Prices also varied greatly, from the Globus Moitié-Moitié (half and half) cheese mix at 6,25 francs per 100 grams to the Appenzeller ready-made fondue from Migros, 1,3 francs per 100 grams.

Lidl's Moitié-Moitié fondue rated as best in Switzerland

In the study, it was the west of the Röstigraben that earned the cheese bragging rights: with a score of 5,2 out of six, the Fromani Frisch-Fondue Moitié-Moitié from Lidl came out on top. The mixture of Gruyère and Vacherin Fribourgois was given high scores for smell and taste, which the judges described as “milky, complex, harmonious” and even “burnt”.

Thanks to its sweet, agreeable taste and buttery smell, the Appenzeller Frischfondue took second with 5 points out of six, rounding out the only two fondues rated as “good” by the judges. Globus’ Moitié-Moitié completed the podium with 4,5 out of six. SRF added that the ranking showed that price does not ensure the best fondue, given that the winner from Lidl is half the price of Globus’ Moitié-Moitié. 

However, this doesn’t mean that cheaper always means better: Aldi’s Saveurs Suisses Moitié-Moitié came last with a score of 3,1. Judge Bruno Lustenberger said that the fondue had neither the smell nor taste of cheese - great for not stinking out your apartment, but not ideal for a flavourful dinner party.  Aldi’s Emmi Gerber fondue also scored poorly with 3,2 points, with the judges saying the fondue resembled “chewed gum.”

Best and worst store-bought fondues in Switzerland

In all, here are the 12 store-bought fondues from Switzerland, rated from best to worst

• 1. Fromani Frisch-Fondue Moitié-Moitié (5,2)
• 2. Eberle Appezeller Frischfondue (5)
• 3. Globus Fondue Moitié-Moitié (Classique) (4,5)
• 4. Emmi Kaltbach Frischfondue (4,4)
• =5. Migros Bio-Fondue Moitié-Moitié (4,3)
• =5. Denner Frischfondue Moitié-Moitié (4,3)
• =5. Spar Weinfondue Classic (4,3)
• =8. Appenzeller Fondue (4)
• =8. Eberle Moitié-Moitié Fondue Röstigraben (4)
• 10. Coop Naturaplan Bio-Fondue Moitié-Moitié (3,7)
• 11. Gerber Fondue Original (3,2)
• 12. Saveurs Suisses Frischfondue Moitié-Moitié (3,1)

For more information about the study and more details about the scores, check out the official report.