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8 Best Supermarket Cheddars, Taste-Tested for Tang and Creaminess
I was surprised by the range of tastes and textures hailing from the supermarket aisles.
Alice Reynolds Friday 08 May 2026 11:53 BST
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My review focussed on mature cheddar (Alice Reynolds/The Independent)
Our Top Picks
- Best supermarket cheddar overall – Tesco finest mature English cheddar cheese – £4
- Best budget supermarket cheddar – Aldi emporium British mature cheddar cheese – £2
- Best supermarket cheddar for versatility – Sainsbury's British mature cheddar cheese – £3
- Best organic supermarket cheddar – Waitrose Duchy organic mature cheddar cheese – £5
- Best supermarket cheddar for cheeseboards – Aldi specially selected West Country vintage cheddar cheese – £3
- Best crowd-pleasing supermarket cheddar – M&S British mature cheddar cheese – £3
- Best mellow supermarket cheddar – Waitrose essential mature cheddar cheese strength 4 – £3
- Best supermarket cheddar for cooking – Tesco mature cheddar – £3
Cheddar is a core part of the supermarket shop for many. It’s a versatile and popular cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. While it’s known for its tang and mellow creaminess, there’s now a lot of variety within the category, with mild, medium and mature offerings often quite different tastes and textures. According to cheese writer and educator Patrick McGuigan, this comes down to ageing. “Traditionally, mild would be three months, medium six months, mature 12 months, extra mature 18 months, vintage 24 months,” he explains. “But in reality, these ages are probably much lower in most block cheddar versions.” This means it's worth checking the specified ageing time on the block. But as with lots of items in your weekly food shop, the cost of cheddar cheese has risen significantly. If this has led you to turn to supermarket own-brand options, you’re not alone – and I’ve put a range to the test to find the best supermarket cheddar cheeses.
I paired the cheese with crackers and apples (Alice Reynolds/The Independent)
The Best Supermarket Cheddar Cheeses for 2026 Are:
- Best overall – Tesco finest mature English cheddar cheese: £4, Tesco.com
- Best budget buy – Aldi emporium British mature cheddar cheese: £2.49, Aldi.co.uk
- Best for versatility – Sainsbury's British mature cheddar cheese: £2.50, Sainsburys.co.uk
- Best for a cheeseboard – Aldi specially selected West Country vintage cheddar cheese: £3.39, Aldi.co.uk
- Best organic – Waitrose duchy organic mature cheddar cheese strength 4: £4.75, Waitrose.com
1. Tesco finest mature English cheddar cheese – Best supermarket cheddar overall
Price per 100g: £1.14. Why we love it: Satisfying texture, flavoursome. After working my way through countless blocks of cheese, it’s the Tesco Finest mature that takes the top spot as the best supermarket cheddar. This is because of its great depth of flavour and crumbly but creamy texture. This has the perfect balance of tang and creaminess. Made at the Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall and typically matured for 12 months, it’s flavoursome and has a satisfying texture. Despite being comparably priced to other supermarket options, it tastes high-quality. If you do your weekly food shop in Tesco, you’re in luck. £4 from Tesco.com. Prices may vary.
2. Aldi emporium British mature cheddar cheese – Best budget supermarket cheddar
Price per 100g: 60p. Why we love it: Decent tang, great value. Take note: Milder than other mature cheeses tested. I wouldn’t blame you if you mistook the Aldi emporium British mature cheddar for butter; it’s that creamy. No surprise, it has a smooth texture, but the subtle tang was well received. This is a great budget find. I wouldn’t recommend it if you like a punchy, tangy cheddar, but it’s by no means the mildest. Plus at 62p per 100g, it’s the best budget supermarket cheddar I tasted. It’s certainly a great option for grating on your baked beans. £2 from Aldi.co.uk. Prices may vary.
3. Sainsbury's British mature cheddar cheese – Best supermarket cheddar for versatility
Price per 100g: £1.14. Why we love it: Crowd-pleaser, has a subtle tang. Take note: No crumb. Sainsbury's British mature Cheddar cheese is another smoother option, making it versatile for use on sandwiches, omelettes, or grated into dishes. I was expecting a mild taste, but was pleasantly surprised by its subtle kick on the palate. This delivers a subtle tang. With so many uses across different dishes and a reasonable price, it’s a great cheddar for big families that still delivers on taste. £3 from Sainsburys.co.uk. Prices may vary.
4. Waitrose Duchy organic mature cheddar cheese – Best organic supermarket cheddar
Price per 100g: £1.36. Why we love it: Full-bodied taste, organic. Take note: Pricier than other supermarket options. If you only shop organic, I’d recommend Waitrose’s mature cheddar from its Duchy Organic range. It delivers as much on taste as it does on responsible practices. The cheddar is made by cheesemakers at Taw Valley creamery in Devon. This earns extra marks as an organic cheese. The cheese is smooth with a slight crumb, rich and full-bodied. It has a well-rounded, mature taste while remaining creamy and is a punch to the senses. The only downside is the price. £5 from Waitrose.com. Prices may vary.
5. Aldi specially selected West Country vintage cheddar cheese – Best supermarket cheddar for cheeseboards
Price per 100g: £1.13. Why we love it: Super tangy, well priced. Take note: Might be too strong for some. Aldi’s West Country vintage cheddar cheese was the biggest curveball when testing. It’s super-sharp and has an almost crunchy, crumbly texture. This is a distinctive cheddar. While it might be too punchy for some, it’ll tick the boxes for those who like it strong – and it’s well-priced. If you’re putting together a cheese board, this will make a great addition and stand up to other punchy cheeses. £3 from Aldi.co.uk. Prices may vary.
6. M&S British mature cheddar cheese – Best crowd-pleasing supermarket cheddar
Price per 100g: 80p. Why we love it: Suits a variety of palates and dishes, great value. Take note: Quite mild. M&S’s British Mature Cheddar is made at the same place as Waitrose, the Taw Valley Creamery. I’d say the number 5 on the label is a little deceiving as it is much more of a creamy, milky Cheddar rather than tangy, as its description says. That being said, it’s a tasty Cheddar that feels high quality and works just as well in toasties, as it would on a cheese platter. Plus, at 80p per 100g, it’s great value. £3 from Ocado.com. Prices may vary.
7. Waitrose essential mature cheddar cheese strength 4 – Best mellow supermarket cheddar
Price per 100g: 70p. Why we love it: Creamy and smooth, great value. Take note: Pretty mild. This mature Cheddar cheese hails from Waitrose’s essentials range and is surprisingly, the second cheapest in this guide. I found it pretty mild despite its number 4 label, but it means it's easy eating for both adults and kids. This is a milky cheddar. It’s less rich than its organic counterpart from the supermarket, but if you like a smooth, milky cheese this might work for you. £3 from Waitrose.com. Prices may vary.
8. Tesco mature cheddar – Best supermarket cheddar for cooking
Price per 100g: 80p. Why we love it: Milky, great value. Take note: Taste is a little underwhelming. Tesco’s mature Cheddar offers great value for money at 80p per 100g. While it’s pretty pale in colour, it cuts with a decent crumbliness. This would work well for kids’ sandwiches. Taste-wise, it’s not that punchy or distinctive as a mature Cheddar. I can imagine it’ll work well for kids’ sandwiches, who might recoil over sharp tanginess, or in cooking as it grates well. £3 from Tesco.com. Prices may vary.
What is the best supermarket cheddar?
After working my way through endless blocks of cheddar cheese, it was Tesco’s finest mature English cheddar cheese that stole the show, with its balance between a crumbly texture, high-quality taste and decent tang. For those looking for a budget-friendly, crowd pleasing choice, pick up Aldi’s emporium British mature cheddar cheese, which costs just 60p per 100g. If organic credentials ticks your box, Waitrose duchy organic mature cheddar cheese strength 4 is a lovely cheese, too.
How I tested supermarket cheddar
I tested eight mature Cheddar cheese, as it’s a popular supermarket cheese category that offers a nice variety. During testing I paid attention to the following factors:
- Taste: I looked at the overall flavour of each cheese, including how rich, sharp and balanced it was, as well as whether the mature profile delivered the depth and tang expected from a good Cheddar.
- Texture: I assessed how each cheese felt to eat, noting whether it was crumbly or smooth.
- Farming practices: I considered any information provided about the cheese-making process and sourcing, including mentions of British milk, grass-fed cows, traditional methods or sustainability credentials.
- Value for money: I compared the quality, flavour and size against the price to judge whether each cheese felt worth the cost.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer at IndyBest, and has previously tested a range of supermarket food and drink, including the best supermarket pizza and best supermarket dark chocolate. The wider IndyBest team have taste-tested a wide range of supermarket buys, assessing them for quality, value for money and price. From butter and sourdough to olive oil and wine, we’ve hand-picked the best of the best. As we test everything in real-life settings, we’ll only recommend something truly worth your money. Looking for more supermarket heroes? These are the best supermarket hot sauces to add to your weekly shop.
