Here at Juniper Cakery we have amassed a large collection of sugarpaste tools. Some things we were lacking were the above Tala products. We have to admit we did not know that Tala made plunger cutters and modelling tools. We'd always used their pastry cutters to create smooth 'doilies', plaques, and sugar paste detailings. We've also used their 1950s icing set to add detail to cakes. Tala appeals to us because of their traditional yet simplistic 1950s/60s design, however, the the quality of their products is never compromised.
We have scored the above Tala tools on design, quality and function…
In order to test these modelling tools we decided to create a Tala inspired cake. We looked at their packaging, cake tins and at 1960s cake designs (due to the 1950s/60s style of Tala's products). From their range we picked out a very simple colour palate of a sky blue, pale yellow and white. From the sixties influence we chose to create sugarpaste pearls, an edible broderie anglaise border and a bouquet of daisies and blossoms.
The designs of the modelling tools are simple, classic and un-fussy. Their tools are plastic and are in a slight off-white colour which makes them fairly easy to find in our tool box crammed full of various tools (most of which are either a bright white or a very pale grey colour). The floral plungers, especially the daisy shapes, have just enough detail on them for you to also add you own accents (we cut yellow circles from icing tips and textured them with one of the Tala modelling tools to make the centre of the daisy).
In terms of quality we couldn't fault the tools. Our previous plunger cutters usually needed a bit of a prod or a wiggle in order to shake the flower or leaf out. These simply needed one small push on the plunger and it was ready to adorn with a bead or disc centre. All of the modelling tools are of a good thick and tough plastic so they feel extremely durable.
Some modelling tools came in old fashioned doctor's 'lollipop' style shapes, or more professionally called 'tongue depressors' which came in really handy for tidying up rouh sugarpaste corners. Also, the ball tools are larger than one's we've previously used which we feel will be better when it comes to shaping rose petals and ruffle edgings.
Overall we awarded Tala a well deserved…
