Hilltop Honey Blossom Honey was the standout winner in a taste test of five widely sold honeys, impressing with its delicate floral flavour and lower sweetness compared to rivals from Rowse, Aldi, Co-op and Sainsbury's.
The comparison was prompted by a £9 jar of local honey from a delicatessen, which had a clear taste advantage over the supermarket squeezy honey usually bought for around £1.50. The local honey had a delicate, floral flavour and tasted less sweet than the usual purchase.
Authenticity Concerns Behind the Test
The taste test comes amid concerns about honey authenticity. In 2023, the European Commission tested 320 honey samples from 18 countries and found that almost half were adulterated. All 10 UK samples failed authenticity checks, suggesting they contained unauthorised additives such as sugar syrups or food colourings.
In 2024, The Guardian reported that more than 90% of honey products tested from leading British supermarkets also failed advanced authenticity checks. According to Which?, honey must not contain added substances, have its pollen removed, or be treated in ways that change its acidity or damage its natural enzymes.
Devina Sankhla, a food policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Our members work with suppliers to ensure the authenticity of their honey, conducting regular checks to ensure all honey they sell is as described. Retailers continue to support the development of improved techniques to detect any adulterated honey, so they can continue to ensure customers get the best products on the shelves."
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 Taste Test Results
Own-label honeys from Sainsbury's, Aldi and Co-op were compared with branded options from Hilltop and Rowse. Each honey was stored in the same way and tasted straight from the bottle, judged on taste and value.
1. Hilltop Honey Blossom Honey, 340g, £2.60 at Sainsbury's - Score: 5/5
Hilltop was the clear favourite, with a gentle floral flavour and much less sweetness than the others. It was clean and fragrant, without the syrupy taste noticed in some other products, and reminded the taster of the local honey. The label describes it as a "carefully sourced and fully traceable blend of non-EU honeys" and says it is "tested for authenticity". It costs more than the own-label options, but the better flavour makes it worth the extra cost.
2. Co-op Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g, £1.55 - Score: 3.5/5
Co-op's honey was a pleasant surprise, tasting slightly sweeter than Hilltop's but still with a light floral flavour. It was a little too sweet, but at £1.55 it offered excellent value. Like Hilltop, it is a blend of non-EU honeys.
3. Rowse Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g, £3 at Tesco - Score: 3/5
Rowse was the most expensive honey tried. Its label describes it as a "blend of honeys from more than one country/Blend of non-EU honeys." It was a little too sweet and lacked Hilltop's delicate floral flavour, so at £3 it did not feel like the best value. However, Rowse is often available at a discount through loyalty schemes such as Nectar and Clubcard.
4. Aldi Grandessa Squeezy Honey, 454g, £1.39 - Score: 2/5
Aldi's honey was one of the cheapest options and came in a larger bottle. The packaging simply said "honey", with no details about its origin. It tasted very sweet and syrupy, with none of the floral flavour enjoyed in Hilltop's honey. The price was appealing, but the taste was not.
5. Sainsbury's Runny Honey, 340g, £1.04 - Score: 1/5
Sainsbury's honey had the lowest bottle price, but was disappointing. Its very sweet flavour reminded the taster of golden syrup, and it left a lingering scratchy feeling in the throat. The packaging says "Pure Honey (100%)", but no origin details were found on it. The supermarket's website says it is "packed in the United Kingdom, using a blend of honeys from more than one country/ blend of non-EU honeys."
The Verdict
Hilltop was the winner and would be bought again. For a cheaper option, Co-op offered good flavour and excellent value. The taster also plans to look for honey from a single country of origin where possible, preferring the flavour of the more expensive local honey. Checking the label before buying is recommended to know where honey comes from.
