In a taste test of three Sainsbury's mature cheddars, the cheapest option—a Stamford Street block at £2.49—emerged as the clear winner, scoring 5/5 and beating both the mid-range and premium organic alternatives.
Nicola Roy, a Spare Time writer, bought three blocks of mature cheddar from Sainsbury's at different price levels and tasted each on crackers to judge flavour and quality. All three were level four maturity, reflecting her preference for mature cheddar.
The premium contender: organic mature cheddar at £3.50
The most expensive option was Sainsbury's organic cheddar, priced at £3.50 for a 270g block. Reportedly made by Wyke Farms in Somerset using British organic milk, it carried a pleasant, sharp aroma and sliced without any rubberiness.
Roy found it creamy with a nice sharpness that made it seem more premium than it was, and there was no unpleasant aftertaste. The only drawbacks were a slight lack of flavour and a touch of dryness. She rated it 3.5/5 and said she would definitely buy it again.
Mid-range disappointment: mature British cheddar at £2.50
The mid-priced option, Sainsbury's Mature British Cheddar, cost £2.50 for 220g—a smaller block than the organic version but cheaper per kilogram. Roy described it as her least favourite, with a strong tang that failed to balance creaminess and left a bitter aftertaste.
She suggested it might work well in a toastie or in cooking, such as macaroni cheese or lasagne, but it did not impress on its own. It received a rating of 3/5.
The budget winner: Stamford Street cheddar at £2.49
The final cheese, from Sainsbury's budget Stamford Street range, weighed nearly double the mid-range block and cost less—by just one penny. Roy noted it sliced cleanly and delivered excellent flavour, being by far the creamiest of the three.
Despite concerns it might taste rubbery or plasticky, it did not, offering a pleasing hit of sharpness even on a plain cracker. Roy concluded that the pricing could not be faulted, making it her top choice and the one she would recommend purchasing.
