
Best supermarket pesto
11th August 2022
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In this article
Our independent taste tests of supermarket food and drink have unearthed the best products to buy – from everyday items, such as peanut butter and cereals, to treats including posh crisps, champagne and prosecco.
The results are often surprising. Sometimes supermarket-own labels beat well-known brands, and other times it's worth paying for the branded version.
Discover where you can save money on everyday foods with a simple swap - without compromising on taste - where it's worth paying a bit more, and the best treats to buy for more special occasions.
Tips for living well – shop smarter with our food and health newsletter
Co-op's rocket lollies beat the rest with their bold colours, smooth, but not too firm, texture, and the strong fruity taste that's sweet but not too sickly.
Available from Co-op.
Check out the full results from our rocket ice lollies taste test.
Tested: June 2022
There are two ciders to choose from at the top of the sparkling apple cider tree. If you like your cider on the sweeter side, Waitrose’s cider is the one for you. For something less sweet look to Aspall. Both taste great and hit the right levels of sharpness and fizziness for a refreshing drink.
Check out the full results from our apple cider taste test.
Tested: June 2022
You have a choice between a big brand or a cheaper supermarket alternative if you're after the best vegan mayo. The first has a better colour, according to our panel, but the other is a more convincing substitute for dairy mayonnaise.
Check out the full results from our vegan mayonnaise taste test.
Tested: June 2022
Big brand Starbucks beat the rest (including high street rival Costa) thanks to its flavour profile - just the right level of sweetness, bitterness and strong coffee flavour for our tasters - and its delicious creamy texture.
Available from Asda, Ocado and Sainsbury's.
Check out the full results from our iced coffee taste test.
Tested: June 2022
It's a choice between two brands if you're after the best southern-fried chicken substitutes: Birds Eye for vegans or Quorn if you're vegetarian. Both brands impressed on their appearance, flavour and texture, and most thought they were a convincing swap for chicken.
Check out the full results from our vegan and veggie southern-fried chicken taste test.
Tested: May 2022
Aldi's passion fruit martini cocktail was unmatched in the flavour ratings, with most tasters finding the passion fruit flavour, sweetness and alcohol balance spot on. It's also the cheapest on test at just 89p a can. A winner all round.
Available from Aldi.
Check out the full results from our passion fruit martini cocktail can taste test.
Tested: May 2022
Branded cool tortilla chips reign supreme but there is company for Doritos at the top, with Sainsbury’s cool tortilla chips matching them for flavour, crispness and saltiness. If you shop at Sainsbury’s, it's worth grabbing these tortilla chips, which are half the price of the Doritos.
Check out the full results from our tortilla chips taste test.
Tested: April 2022
Vanilla ice creams from Tesco and Asda topped our taste test, beating big brands Wall’s and Carte D’Or. With their great flavour and texture, these supermarket own-brands show you can make a significant saving on your dessert without compromising on taste.
Check out the full results from our vanilla ice cream taste test.
Tested: April 2022
Finnebrogue's wagyu burger was the only Best Buy in our premium beef burger taste test, winning over tasters with its meaty flavour and juicy texture. It's on the pricey side, but it's a great choice if you're after a delicious patty.
Available from Ocado and Sainsbury's.
Check out the full results from our beef burger taste test.
Tested: March 2022
It was a victory for the big brands in this test, with Beyond Meat's burger coming top, closely followed by Nestlé's Garden Gourmet. Either of these would make a great addition to your summer barbie.
Check out the full results from our vegan burgers taste test.
Tested: March 2022
There was a tie for the best-tasting pork sausages, with Aldi and The Black Farmer sharing the top spot. Both impressed our panel with their tasty seasoning and perfectly porky flavour, and Aldi was one of the cheapest we tested.
Check out the full results from our pork sausage taste test.
Tested: February 2022
Three vegan sausages were tasty enough to be named Best Buys this year: Tesco, This Isn’t Pork and Richmond. Tesco's meat-free bangers were one of the best-rated for appearance, while This Isn't and Richmond impressed our panel with their full flavour.
Check out the full results from our vegan sausage taste test.
Tested: February 2022
Heinz and Waitrose Essential tomato ketchups proved the most popular in our test. Both topped the charts, with most of our tasters finding them spot on for sweetness. Although Heinz took first place, Waitrose is around a third cheaper.
Check out the full results from our tomato ketchup taste test.
Tested: February 2022
Lidl and Morrisons tied for the best baked beans in our taste test, impressing our panel with their great appearance, flavour and texture.
Available from Lidl (in-store only), Ordrs and Morrisons.
Check out the full results from our baked beans taste test.
Tested: February 2022
Aldi’s affordable buns proved a hit with our panel, receiving high marks for their flavour, texture and aroma. At just 27p per bun they were also the cheapest on test.
Available from Aldi.
Check out the full results from our hot cross bun taste test.
Tested: February 2022
Our coffee taste test uncovered two supermarket own label Best Buys, including a great value pick from Lidl that beat pricier brands such as Taylors and Cafédirect.
Available from Lidl (in-store only) and Sainsbury's.
Check out the full results from our Colombian ground coffee taste test.
Tested: January 2022
Waitrose and Lidl were the best rated spreads in our taste test, beating Nutella. Lidl's cheap spread is excellent value for money at less than a third of the price of the big brand.
Available from Waitrose and Lidl (in-store only).
Check out the full results from our chocolate hazelnut spread taste test.
Tested: January 2022
M&S was the only Best Buy, outshining popular brands including Copella, Innocent and Tropicana. We also uncovered a great value runner up costing just 9p per 100ml.
Available from Ocado.
Check out the full results from our orange juice taste test.
Tested: December 2021
Aldi and Morrisons were the joint champions in our taste test, beating big brand Marmite. As well as being one of the tastiest spreads, Aldi's version was also the cheapest on test at just 70p per 100g.
Available from Aldi and Morrisons (in-store only).
Check out the full results from our yeast extract spread taste test.
Tested: December 2021
Our taste test of instant hot chocolate uncovered two Best Buys, with Galaxy and Cadbury named the overall favourites. We also found a great-value supermarket own-label hot chocolate scoring 69%.
Check out the full results from our instant hot chocolate taste test.
Tested: December 2021
M&S and Lidl came top in our peanut butter taste test, earning high marks for their great nutty flavour and satisfying crunchy texture. Lidl's cheap peanut butter is excellent value, costing just 25p per 100g.
Check out the full results from our crunchy peanut butter taste test.
Tested: November 2021
Aunt Bessie's Roasties was our one and only Best Buy this year, beating both Bannister's and all the supermarket own-label contenders.
The panel were impressed with the potatoes' lovely golden colour, and the flavour and texture were just right for most of our tasters too.
Available from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
Check out the full results from our roast potatoes taste test.
Tested: November 2021
Big brand Heineken earned a Best Buy, fighting off competition from the likes of Erdinger, Free Damn and Stella Artois in our blind taste test of low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer.
Available from Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.
Check out the full results from our low alcohol and alcohol-free beer taste test
Tested: September 2021
Kellogg's Crunchy Nut was pipped to the post by Aldi and Morrisons in our honey nut cornflakes taste test. Both cereals offer considerable savings compared with Kellogg's, and contain around 20% less sugar.
Check out the full results from our best honey nut cornflakes taste test.
Tested: August 2021
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