A 65p tin of Tesco tuna has come out on top in a supermarket taste test, beating John West and five other brands. The Tesco tuna scored 9.5/10, while a 65p Aldi tin scored just 1/10, described as the worst tuna the tester had ever tasted.
The taste test setup
Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter at the Daily Express, compared a tin of John West tuna in spring water with supermarket tuna in spring water from Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose. Four of the six supermarket tins cost 65p, one cost 80p, and one cost £1.50.
The John West tin cost £2.25, making it the most expensive per tin in the test, though it was also one of the smallest at 125g. The Waitrose tin cost £1.50 and contained 160g, while the M&S tin cost 80p and also contained 160g.
How each tuna scored
The Tesco tuna, costing 65p for 145g, was the surprise favourite. It had great-sized chunks and a good balance of fishiness and saltiness, more so than the M&S tuna. The only thing stopping it from a perfect score was the lack of a ring-pull top.
The M&S tuna, costing 80p for 160g, scored 9/10. It had large chunks with a muted pinky colour, no offputting smell, and a great flavour, though it lacked a little in saltiness.
John West scored 8/10. The tester liked the taste and could easily recognise it as John West, but noted the chunks were significantly smaller than some supermarket versions, and it didn't taste the best on its own.
Lower scores for Waitrose, Lidl and Aldi
Sainsbury's tuna, costing 65p for 145g, scored 7/10. It looked great in the tin with proper chunks, and the initial bite was delicious but a little dry, though it left a weird aftertaste.
Waitrose tuna, costing £1.50 for 160g, scored 5/10. It had a very strong, perhaps too strong fishy taste, and despite being a slightly bigger tin, the tester said £1.50 was not worth the spend.
Lidl tuna, costing 65p for 145g, scored 4/10. It looked good with good chunks, but the flavour was the most bland in the test, screaming out for mayonnaise or olive oil.
Aldi tuna, costing 65p for 145g, scored 1/10. It was significantly whiffy, mushy rather than in chunks, with lots of small bits floating in the liquid, making it hard to drain. Once drained, it looked like cat food in the tin, and the taste matched.
