Matzoh and macaroons ranked and reviewed.
Machine Matzoh
I sampled three different matzoh brands this year.
Manischewitz (US): Thicker and slightly smaller than other matzohs (and therefore a kashrut issue), Manischewitz tasted like cardboard and paste. The worst tasting matzoh by far.
Holyland (Israel): Crisp, light, very slightly charred.
Yehuda (Israel): Crisp, light, very slightly charred.
Yehuda and Holyland are almost in a perfct tie. But Yehuda's product was slightly lighter and ever so slightly tastier, giving it the number one ranking and Holyland a close number two. Manischewitz was light years behind both in taste, crispness, and quality.
Macaroons:
I sampled two different macaroon brands this year.
Manischewitz (US).
Lieber's (US).
Manischewitz was by far the tastier, moister and more consistent product, a hands down winner over Lieber's in every way possible but one – Manischewitz uses a small amount of matzoh meal to help bind the macaroons and give them consistency, so if you don't eat gebrochts (wet or cooked matzoh) during Passover, you'll have to buy another brand.
Lieber's chocolate chip macaroons varied in size, shape and consistency. Some had chocolate chips but many other's didn't. Some macaroons were round and traditionally shaped, others were angular and jagged. Some were half dollar size, some quarter size and some penny size. (On the other hand, Manischewitz's macaroons were all the same size and shape, can after can.) And Lieber's macaroons had a soapy coconut after taste Manischewitz's product thankfully lacked. About the only thing Lieber's had going for it was the absence of matzoh meal.