Aromat lives

Glorious news! Knorr Aromat isn't dead after all. They were just clearing out old stock. It's now back in a new sprinkler (or canister)!

It has risen again, like a phoenix from its own ashes, and once more graces the shelves of Waitrose. Mind you, its reappearance the other day was only temporary: it was there, then - poof! - suddenly it vanished - the display tray as well - leaving an empty gap. 

I'm sure the staff, when checking the shelves later that day, must have been puzzled. Surely they did order in a supply of Aromat, and surely it did arrive? But where is it now? Has there been fraud and thievery on a massive scale?

Only when analysing the day's sales to customers would they have seen that the entire stock of Aromat was taken by just one regular customer, who happened to be a My Waitrose Card holder, and therefore traceable. Who did the card belong to? A name would come up on screen. Ah, Miss Lucy Melford. Oh yes...we know her, don't we? Well, better get some more in. And let's hope she doesn't take all that too... 

That ought to have been the end of the matter. But somehow it snowballs, and I am swiftly brought before the county judge on a charge of misappropriating the entire supply of Aromat intended for Mid Sussex. 

Here are the court proceedings, as reported in the Mid Sussex Gazette and Globe. The very words of the defendant, a senior lady of hitherto unblemished character.

Guilty as charged, m'lud. I confess to buying Waitrose's entire stock when shopping in Burgess Hill two days ago. I know it was high-handed and wrong, but I couldn't help myself. I was brought up to be quick-thinking, decisive and adroit. My parents are to blame. And so is society. I'm just a victim of clever consumer advertising. (Snivels)

Yes, m'lud, I agree that everyone else in Mid Sussex will now have to wait for the next delivery. Poor devils. (Weeps)

Yes, m'lud, it was very ruthless and forthright of me. But how can I truly feel remorse? M'lud, in these Covid times, one seizes one's chances, and dare not dither. One must act. One can't go away and think about it. One can't be weak and fuddy-duddy. The Law of the Jungle applies, m'lud - the stern and implacable law of Mowgli and Tarzan. (Shows a bit of leg to the judge)

Case dismissed; jury applauds; court officials cheer; police escort home, blue flashing lights, siren, the full monty - and in return for giving the Super her autograph, Miss Melford is allowed to drive the police car at 180mph down the A23.

I exaggerate, of course. It was only 110mph. 

So is this the same product of old? Well, not quite. 

The canister used to be made of metal - aluminium, I think - but now it's all plastic. Presumably that keeps costs down. It also allows the canister to be larger, although it still weighs just the same as the old one (90g), and so presumably doesn't contain any more product. There's now more room, of course, for product information and special claims, such as 'resists Venusian death rays' and similar.

Old above, new below.

The recipe has been altered slightly. Looking at the nutrition table on the side of canister, I see that the number of calories per sprinkle has slightly increased, from 143kcal per 100g to 165kcal per 100g. There's now a little less sugar in it, but a little more fat. However, it seems to make no difference - I haven't noticed any change at all in flavour, nor anything else. 

So, Aromat is back - and welcome. Seasoningwise, I'd reconciled myself to managing with just ordinary salt and pepper, but a sprinkle of Aromat certainly adds something extra. And I've now got enough in my cupboard to last me until the spring! Hurrah! 

If I don't feel sorry for the frustrated people of Mid Sussex, I do for the people who unwittingly bought large supplies of the old stock on eBay or Amazon, in the belief that they were buying the last of the line, and paying way over the odds in some cases. They'll now have an enormous quantity of superseded seasoning on their hands, as well as a hole in their bank account.