The United Kingdom's finest cheese has been determined through rigorous blind taste testing, and the winner is not a household name like Cathedral City. Consumer advocacy group Which? has conducted a series of blind taste tests comparing supermarket own-label products against well-known brands, and the results consistently show that supermarket offerings often surpass their branded counterparts in flavor and quality.
Which? Blind Taste Test Results
In a recent evaluation, Which? assessed supermarket cheddar cheeses alongside established brands such as Cathedral City and Davidstow. The top performer was Tesco's own-brand offering, which achieved a score of 78 percent. Testers praised its flavor profile and described the texture as firm, smooth, pleasingly crumbly, and creamy. The salt levels and depth of flavor were highlighted as exceptional.
Price and Value
Despite being a supermarket own-label product, the Tesco Finest Mature English Cheddar is not necessarily the cheapest option. It retails at £4 for 350 grams, which was noted as being about average in price compared to other cheeses in the test. However, its superior taste and texture made it a standout choice.
The second-place cheese was Davidstow Classic Cheddar, scoring 75 percent. It is among the pricier options at £4.75 for 350 grams, equating to £1.36 per 100 grams. Despite the higher cost, Davidstow received a 'best buy' recommendation from Which?.
Rankings of Other Cheeses
Marks & Spencer secured third place with its Cornish Cove Mature Cheddar Cheese, priced at £4.25 for 350 grams. Castello Tickler Mature Cheddar Cheese took fourth place at £4.75 for 300 grams. Cathedral City Mature Cheddar, a popular brand, could only manage joint-fifth place alongside Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar, both priced at £3.50 and £4.20 for 350 grams respectively.
Sainsbury's Barber's Mature Cruncher Cheese (£4 for 350 grams) and Aldi's Specially Selected West Country Mature Cheddar (£2.99 for 350 grams) tied for sixth place. The Co-op's Irresistible Somerset Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.50 for 340 grams) ranked last.
Supermarket Instant Coffee Also Triumphs
In a separate blind taste test this year, Which? evaluated instant coffees and found that two supermarket own-brands outperformed major names like Nescafé, Kenco, and Douwe Egberts. Marks & Spencer Gold Instant Coffee and Waitrose Gold Roast shared the top spot with a 70 percent customer score. The M&S option excelled in flavor, aroma, and appearance, with nearly two-thirds of tasters satisfied with its strength and almost three-quarters approving of its bitterness. Waitrose performed well in all categories, creating an excellent initial impact with its look and smell, supported by noteworthy taste. More than half of participants found the coffee's strength perfectly balanced, and almost two-thirds appreciated the bitter notes.
These results demonstrate that well-known brands do not always guarantee superior quality, and supermarket own-label products can offer excellent taste and value.
