In a recent taste test, Aldi's Bramwells Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce, priced at 39p, emerged as the winner, beating both Heinz and Lidl's own-brand versions. The Aldi beans were found to taste extremely similar to Heinz Beanz, which cost £1.40 per tin, making them a significantly cheaper alternative.
The comparison involved tins from the UK's two cheapest supermarkets, Aldi and Lidl, alongside the well-known Heinz brand. All three were tested at the same time, with flavour being the primary criterion for evaluation. Baked beans are a staple in many British households, valued for their flavour, fibre, and protein content, with a serving counting as one of the five a day.
Lidl's 39p Option Falls Short
Lidl's Newgate Baked Beans in Rich Tomato Sauce, also priced at 39p for a 425ml tin, came in third place. While the price was noted as stellar for a food high in protein and fibre, the flavour was not as strong as the others. The beans had a lovely sweetness, but the other two tins packed more of a punch. It was suggested that the budget-friendly option could be easily improved with a bit of black pepper, paprika, and cumin.
Heinz Takes Second Place
Heinz Beanz in Tomato Sauce, priced at £1.40 at Tesco for a 415g tin, secured second place. While the beans were undeniably tasty, with the most sauce in the tin and a lovely, rich flavour with the right amount of subtle savoury bitterness, the price was a drawback. The winner tasted almost identical to Heinz, making the extra cost hard to justify.
Aldi's Clear Victory
Aldi's Bramwells Baked Beans were the clear winner. At just 39p, they were more than £1 cheaper than Heinz but tasted extremely similar. The only drawback noted was that there wasn't as much sauce in the tin compared to Heinz, but there was still enough to make a proper, rich meal. The flavour packed just enough punch, and the beans were surprisingly rich for the price. The tester concluded that Aldi would be their choice for baked beans from now on.
