Consumer watchdog Which? has crowned Aldi's Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream as the best vanilla ice cream in a blind taste test involving 63 dessert enthusiasts. The supermarket brand scored 77%, outperforming premium rivals such as Häagen-Dazs and Yeo Valley, and winning Which?'s 'Great Value' award at just £2.69 per tub.
How the Taste Test Worked
Which? recruited 63 ice cream fans to sample ten different vanilla ice creams blind, including supermarket own brands and well-known labels. Participants evaluated each product on flavour, sweetness, texture, and creaminess. The results revealed that price did not always correlate with quality.
Aldi's entry, the Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream, impressed tasters with its well-balanced flavour and creamy texture. Nearly three-quarters of testers rated its creaminess as perfect. Which? stated: 'A delicious crowd-pleasing ice cream that’s also the joint cheapest on test. Most thought the strength of flavour and sweetness were just right.'
Top Performers and Surprising Results
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50) came second with 76%, praised for its good flavour and balanced sweetness but lacking in creaminess. Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.50) and Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.75) also scored 76%, tying for third and fourth respectively. However, Yeo Valley lost points due to insufficient creaminess.
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream (£5.75) ranked second-to-last with a score of 67%, while Jude's Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream (£5) came last at 63%. The results show that premium pricing does not guarantee superior taste or texture.
Aldi's Response
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, commented: 'In this sunny spell, there’s no better time for shoppers to discover the best summer staples. Our Specially Selected Madagascan vanilla ice cream earns both ‘Best Buy’ and ‘Great Value’ from Which? – beating far pricier rivals – is the ultimate seal of approval. It shows you don’t have to compromise on quality or flavour to stay on budget this summer. A big win for shoppers, who can enjoy a truly indulgent treat at an unbeatable price.'
Full Results Table
- Aldi Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 77%, £2.69, 480ml, 56p/100ml, 231 kcal/100g
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 76%, £3.50, 480ml, 73p/100ml, 219 kcal/100g
- Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 76%, £4.50, 500ml, 90p/100ml, 242 kcal/100g
- Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 76%, £4.75, 500ml, 95p/100ml, 229 kcal/100g
- Morrisons The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 75%, £3, 480ml, 63p/100ml, 254 kcal/100g
- Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream: 75%, £3.50, 480ml, 73p/100ml, 231 kcal/100g
- Lidl Deluxe Vanilla Ice Cream: 72%, £2.69, 480ml, 56p/100ml, 249 kcal/100g
- Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream: 67%, £5.75, 460ml, £1.25/100ml, 250 kcal/100g
- Jude's Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream: 63%, £5, 460ml, £1.09/100ml, 233 kcal/100g
Which? awarded Aldi the 'Best Buy' and 'Great Value' accolades, highlighting that the ice cream is not only top-rated but also one of the cheapest options available. The watchdog noted that at less than £3, Aldi's offering provides exceptional value without compromising on taste or texture.
