A taste test of shop-bought chicken tikka masala sauces has crowned Marks and Spencer's version the best, scoring 8.5 out of 10 and beating popular brands Patak's and Sharwood's, as well as offerings from Tesco, Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons and Sainsbury's.
The comparison, carried out by Matt Davies of What's On, assessed two well-known brands – Sharwood's and Patak's – alongside seven supermarket alternatives. The UK curry sector generates more than £4 billion annually, with more than 10,000 curry establishments and takeaways nationwide, according to figures cited in the review.
How the sauces ranked
Marks and Spencer's Tikka Masala Curry Sauce, priced at £2.10 for 500g, was described as "wonderfully fragrant, thick and intensely aromatic". The reviewer noted it was "more or less everything I could want from curry in a jar", with an ideal spice level for a mild variety and a richer orange tone than Sharwood's.
Patak's Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce, at £2.50 for 450g, scored 8/10. It was described as a denser, spicier alternative to Sharwood's, less sugary and with prominent notes of onion and garlic, and among the closest to restaurant-style tikkas.
Tesco's Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce, priced at 85p for 500g, and Aldi's offering both scored 7.5/10. Tesco's was praised for its balance of sweetness and spice, while Aldi's packed "quite a kick for what is supposedly a mild option".
Lower-ranked entries
Asda's sauce scored 7/10, described as dark and aromatic with a gentle kick and notes of onion, garlic and ginger, though slightly watery. Sharwood's Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce, the priciest at £2.65 for 420g, also scored 7/10 after the reviewer revised an initial provisional score downwards, finding it "overwhelmingly sweet".
Lidl's Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce, at 85p for 500g, scored 6/10, with the reviewer noting it was unexpectedly hot but had a somewhat artificial taste. Morrisons' version scored 5.5/10, described as overly tomatoey with a sickly texture, while Sainsbury's ranked bottom with 5/10, criticised for a watery consistency, overpowering tomato flavour and lack of spice.
