In a taste test of four supermarket sourdough loaves, Aldi's Specially Selected White Sourdough Sliced Loaf came out on top, scoring 5/5. The £1.89 loaf for 500g beat Jason's, Sainsbury's and Co-op alternatives, impressing with its tangy flavour and low price.
How the test was carried out
Jason's white sourdough was compared with similar loaves from Sainsbury's, Aldi and Co-op. Each loaf was judged on taste, price, packaging, ingredients and how well it toasted. Every slice was handled the same way, toasted for three minutes until lightly golden, and spread with a little butter.
Sourdough has become a household staple, prompting supermarkets to launch their own versions. Jason's is Britain's third-biggest bread brand, now ahead of Kingsmill, and is a familiar sight on supermarket shelves across the country.
Fourth place: Sainsbury's Taste the Difference
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Sourdough Medium Sliced White Bread, at £2 for 400g, was the smallest of the four loaves. It tasted good, with a pleasant sharpness and strong savoury flavour, but the texture was disappointing. Once toasted, it became cardboard-like and seemed stale. The crust was nicely chewy, but the thick layer of flour made it feel dusty.
The ingredients included soya flour and ascorbic acid, a flour-treatment agent. Consumer group Which? says authentic sourdough should contain just four ingredients: flour, water, salt and a starter, usually made from fermented flour and water. Of the four loaves, only Sainsbury's contained soya flour and ascorbic acid. It scored 3/5.
Third place: Co-op Irresistible
Co-op Irresistible Slice White Sourdough, at £2.90 for 500g, seemed overpriced, especially as Aldi's loaf is the same size and costs over £1 less. Its flavour was excellent: well-seasoned, sharp and nutty, with a chewy and tangy crust, making it the clear winner for taste.
However, the plastic packaging didn't reseal well, so slices sometimes fell out or went stale. Co-op's sourdough contains no ascorbic acid, but it does include rye flour, rice flour and rapeseed oil. Of all the breads tried, Co-op's had the airiest texture and toasted to a satisfying crisp without turning cardboard-like. It scored 4/5.
Second place: Jason's The Great White Sourdough
Jason's sourdough, at £2.25 for 450g at Sainsbury's, toasts brilliantly, keeps well, arrives in recyclable paper wrapping, and lists just five core ingredients: wheat flour, water, rye flour, salt, and fermented wheat flour. It delivers an ideal tang and an airy, chewy consistency, calling to mind bread from a local bakery.
The sole reasons it missed first place are its somewhat reduced size and slightly higher price point compared to Aldi's 500g loaf. That said, it regularly features in Sainsbury's Nectar prices, bringing the cost down. It scored 4.5/5.
Winner: Aldi's Specially Selected
Aldi's Specially Selected White Sourdough Sliced Loaf, at £1.89 for 500g, shares the same five ingredients as Jason's (wheat flour, water, rye flour, salt, fermented wheat flour) and comes in very similar recyclable paper packaging. The clear window must be removed from the bag and taken to a separate recycling point.
Aldi's sourdough has a wonderfully tangy, pleasingly salty taste. The crust is satisfyingly chewy with a hint of nuttiness, and it performs brilliantly in the toaster. The price clinched it for Aldi's loaf: £1.89 for 500g is simply unbeatable. It's one to keep an eye out for, as long as you can catch it in stock. It scored 5/5.
