A supermarket own-brand tuna has beaten John West in a head-to-head taste test, with Tesco's 65p tin emerging as the clear winner at £1.60 cheaper than the branded option. The result came as a surprise to the tester, who had rarely strayed from John West in the past.
Tuna is a versatile store cupboard staple, available in brine, spring water, or oil. The choice of liquid should be guided by how the fish will be served: spring water suits tuna jacket potatoes or mayo sandwiches, while olive oil works better for mayo-free sandwiches or salads.
With a single tin of John West costing £2.25, the tester decided to compare it against own-brand versions from Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, M&S and Waitrose. Four of the six supermarket tins cost 65p each, one was priced at 80p, and the remaining option was £1.50.
Sainsbury's and Lidl: Mixed First Impressions
Sainsbury's tuna (65p, 145g) made an impressive initial impression, with proper chunks of fish clearly visible rather than a mushed-together mass. The first bite was thoroughly enjoyable, if slightly dry, and lacked that overpowering fishy taste. However, an unpleasant aftertaste lingered after a moment or two, which was somewhat off-putting. It scored 7/10.
Lidl's tuna (65p, 145g) appeared reasonably appealing straight from the tin, aside from a slightly brown surface, with decent chunks visible throughout. However, the flavour proved rather underwhelming — it was the most insipid tuna of the entire taste test, desperately crying out for mayonnaise or olive oil. It scored 4/10.
Waitrose and Aldi: Price and Disappointment
Waitrose ( £1.50, 160g) was the priciest supermarket tin in the test. Despite containing 160g, once drained the tin appeared somewhat sparse. Flavour-wise, it delivered an extremely pronounced, perhaps excessively fishy taste. The £1.50 price tag feels difficult to justify. It scored 5/10.
Aldi's offering (65p, 145g) was described as unquestionably the worst tuna the tester has ever sampled, not merely within this taste test. The opened tin had a notably unpleasant odour, and the tuna was considerably mushier than chunked, with numerous tiny fragments suspended in the brine, making it challenging to strain without losing portions. After draining, it resembled pet food in the tin, and the flavour was no better. It scored 1/10.
John West and M&S: The Brand vs The Contender
John West ( £2.25, 125g) was amongst the smallest tins available in supermarkets. The tuna had a decent hue, though the pieces were noticeably smaller than several of the supermarket alternatives. The taste was appreciated and instantly identifiable as John West, though it wouldn't be described as tasting the best when eaten alone. It scored 8/10.
Marks and Spencer (80p, 160g) ranked as the second priciest supermarket tinned tuna. The pieces were meaty and had a pleasant, subtle pink tone rather than grey or brown, and didn't emit an off-puttingly pungent aroma. It was substantial, and while slightly lacking in saltiness, the taste was excellent. It scored 9/10.
Tesco: The Surprise Winner
Tesco's tuna (65p, 145g) emerged as the top pick, a result that genuinely took the tester aback. It boasted impressively substantial-sized chunks and struck an excellent balance between its briny and savoury notes, surpassing even the M&S offering in this regard. The only minor gripe preventing a perfect score was the absence of a ring-pull lid. It scored 9.5/10.
