Hilltop Honey Blossom Honey emerged as the clear winner in a five-way supermarket taste test, impressing with pronounced floral undertones and a freshness that recalled locally produced honey, while Co-op's squeezy honey offered the best value for budget shoppers.
Millie Bull, Deputy Editor of Spare Time, conducted the comparison after noticing a stark difference between her usual £1.50 supermarket squeezy bottle and a £9 jar of locally produced honey from a deli. The local variety was more floral and subtle, and far less sugary than the supermarket alternatives.
How the Test Was Run
Bull compared own-brand runny honeys from Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Co-op alongside branded varieties from Hilltop and Rowse. To ensure fairness, each honey was assessed on both taste and value, with a small spoonful taken directly from the jar for sampling.
The test comes amid wider concerns about honey authenticity. In 2023, the European Commission examined 320 honey samples from 18 countries and found that almost half were fraudulent, with all 10 UK samples failing authenticity tests. In 2024, The Guardian reported that more than 90% of honey products sampled from leading British supermarkets also failed rigorous authenticity testing.
The Results
Hilltop's Honey Blossom Honey, 340g at £2.60 from Sainsbury's, scored 5/5. Unlike Rowse and the supermarket own-brands, it had no syrupy or artificial taste, delivering a fresh, flowery flavour. The label describes it as a "carefully sourced and fully traceable blend of non-EU honeys" that is "tested for authenticity."
Co-op Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g at £1.55, scored 3.5/5. Although sweeter than Hilltop's, it retained a subtle floral note and offered outstanding value, with the main downside being accessibility for areas without a nearby Co-op.
Rowse Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g at £3 from Tesco, scored 3/5. It proved the most expensive option sampled, felt a touch too sweet, and lacked the delicate floral notes of a top-quality product, though it is regularly discounted through loyalty schemes such as Nectar and Clubcard.
Aldi GRANDESSA Squeezy Honey, 454g at £1.39, scored 2/5. It was extremely sweet and syrupy with no floral notes, and its label simply states "honey" with no origin information.
Sainsbury's Runny Honey, 340g at £1.04, scored 1/5. The flavour was more akin to golden syrup than authentic honey, excessively sweet and leaving a persistent soreness in the throat. Its label states it is "Pure Honey (100%)" but provides no origin details.
Wider Context and Verdict
According to Which?, by law, honey must not contain any added substances, have its pollen removed, or be processed in a way that alters its acidity or harms its natural enzymes. A Government spokesperson said: "There is no place for adulterated honey. We work closely with enforcement authorities to ensure honey sold in the UK is not subject to adulteration."
The verdict: Hilltop's Honey Blossom honey is a brand Bull will certainly buy again, while Co-op's honey is an excellent option for those watching their pennies. Having learned more about honey's origins, Bull will now make a point of buying single-origin honey wherever possible, and advises checking labels to find out exactly where honey originates.
