Texture & Consistency: Is the texture pleasant—whether chunky or smooth? Is the consistency too watery or too thick?
Aroma: Does it have the characteristic fermented smell without being off-putting? Is the intensity appropriate, or is it so strong it's unpleasant? Does the aroma match the flavor?
Flavor: Is the bagoong more sweet or salty forward? Does the sweetness taste artificial and is too cloying? Is the shrimp flavor prominent? Does it taste too fishy?
Fine Print
The Lineup: We tested 14 different kinds of bagoong from the grocery: regular, sweet, spicy, and everything else in between.
Why We’re Doing This: Barrio Fiesta currently dominates the bagoong aisle. But is it really the best, or are we just buying it out of habit? We tested all kinds of bagoong to find out.
How We Tasted: Each product was sampled at room temperature and tasted as is.
Blind Taste Test: All products were removed from their packaging, labeled, and tasted blind to prevent brand bias.
How We Scored: Each product was evaluated across 3 criteria. Final placements reflect the Pepper team’s averaged impressions.
Transparency: No brand paid for inclusion in this taste test.
