We Tried Three Variants Of Banter Peanut Butter. Here’s Our Verdict!

Peanut butter, in a way, is like cooking rice. It has one hero element, and if that is incorrect, the entire thing goes south.

Banter, a relatively new entrant in the nut butter category, comes with the promise of ‘100% homemade goodness’. We ordered three variants for our Banter Peanut Butter review – Honey roasted, Creamy and Classic. Here is what we think.

Is this something you must try?

This table holds a summary of our review.

What were we looking for in our Banter Peanut Butter review?

The parameters and review process were the same as other nut butter we have reviewed. 

We scanned the ingredient list, nutrition label, and gauged the flavor, freshness, and consistency (also texture, for a crunchy variant).

1. Taste 

Peanuts have a nutty but naturally savory taste. While the unflavored variant should taste just like that, we expect the flavored variants to still have a prominent flavor of the nut with rounded, balanced flavors of the added ingredients (if any).

Roasted peanuts have a more robust flavor. We gauged this, as well as the freshness. Fresh peanut butter will have no rancid or bitter flavors. How was our experience with this?

2. Consistency/Texture

We tasted three variants, two of which were creamy and one crunchy. 

Was the creamy variant smooth? Did the crunchy variant have a substantial amount of peanut bits? Did the bits retain a crunchy bite?

3. Nutrition Quotient

We scanned the ingredient list and compared the calories and overall macronutrients to other similar ranges of peanut butter in the market. 

What did we find? Did we like these findings?

4. Other Parameters

The price, packaging, and shelf life were other parameters we considered. 

The following section explains in detail our experience with the three variants of Banter Peanut Butter. 

Our Experience

The aroma was nutty and fresh. It was almost like ground, roasted peanuts. It had the characteristic brown hue with some bits of peanuts. We tasted some straight out of the jar and to test the spreadability, we also applied a layer over untoasted bread slices. The spreadability was commendable. No complaints here.

The peanut bits had retained their crunch which we quite liked. However, there were not too many bits, so the Crunchy variant somehow felt quite similar to the Creamy variant. 

In terms of flavor, just like its aroma, this was fresh. The characteristic nuttiness of peanuts could be tasted, which was how it naturally is. 

One serve is 15 grams which offers 88 Kcal, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein. These values are identical to other unflavored, unsweetened, single-ingredient variants of peanut butter. 

Product Features

A 200-gram jar is priced at Rs 199/- This is a glass jar with a metal lid.

This is made with just one ingredient- peanuts.

Our Experience

This variant is exactly like the Crunchy variant, in terms of ingredients and macronutrients. 

This had a fresh, natural taste of peanuts, nothing lacking here. But the consistency was way TOO flowy. To put it into perspective, this peanut butter would be better used for baking, in smoothies, over oatmeal, rather than over slices of bread.

Product Features

A 200-gram jar is priced at Rs 200/- It has a six-month shelf life and peanuts are the only ingredients that go in the making. The calories and macro-distribution are identical to the above variant. 

Our Experience

Before we dive into how this variant tasted, let’s talk about the Maillard effect, the how, what, and why of it. 

The Maillard effect is a reaction when food is cooked (peanuts are roasted). It is the rearrangement of amino acids and simple sugars that impact the appearance and flavors. To put it simply, this is a complex process that transforms raw ingredients to lend a better sensory experience in terms of flavor and aroma. That said, if overdone, it can lead to an off-putting taste which can be borderline bitter. 

Back to our Banter Honey Roasted Peanut Butter. The spreadability and consistency were almost identical to the above variant. 

The flavor profile definitely had some room for improvement. This contains honey, in addition to peanuts. What we liked was the balanced sweetness and the fresh flavor of peanuts. That being said, it felt like the peanuts had been roasted for a slightly longer duration than needed, because there was an underlying bitterness as the aftertaste. Because this was not past its expiration date, we circled back to the Maillard effect. 

Product Features

One jar holds 200 grams of product and is priced at Rs 250/- This has a shelf life of six months and is gluten-free. The main ingredients are peanuts and honey. 

Compared to generic honey-sweetened peanut butter, this is slightly higher in calories and carbohydrates. 

While 15 grams of Banter Peanut Butter offers 100 Kcal with 7 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 5 grams of carbohydrates (of which 4 grams are sugar), other honey-sweetened peanut butter would offer 91 Kcal with 6.8 grams of fat, 2.7 grams of carbohydrates, and 3.6 grams of protein. 

Here are some interesting FAQs on Banter Peanut Butter

There you go! That was Mishry’s experience with three variants of Banter Peanut Butter. A clean ingredient list is always appreciated and Banter came through on it. While this was fresh tasting, the texture/consistency certainly has some room for improvement. 

How do you consume peanut butter? Oatmeal, toasts, or straight out of the jar?