A taste test of five supermarket honeys found Hilltop Honey Blossom the clear winner, beating Rowse and three own-brand options on flavour and value. The test came amid wider concerns about honey authenticity, with recent investigations finding that many UK supermarket honeys failed authenticity tests.
How the test was done
Own-brand runny honeys from Sainsbury's, Aldi and Co-op were compared with branded varieties from Hilltop and Rowse. Each honey was judged on flavour and price, with all samples stored and tasted in the same way: a small spoonful straight from the bottle.
In 2023, the European Commission investigated 320 honey samples from 18 countries and found that nearly half were fraudulent. All 10 UK samples failed authenticity tests, indicating the presence of unapproved additives such as food colourings, sugar syrups, or other ingredients. In 2024, The Guardian reported that over 90% of honey products sampled from major British supermarkets also failed advanced authenticity testing.
The results
Hilltop Honey Blossom Honey, 340g at £2.60 from Sainsbury's, scored 5/5. Its floral notes were distinct yet not overpowering, and it was noticeably less sweet than the other brands. The label states the honey is a "carefully sourced and fully traceable blend of non-EU honeys," "from more than one country," and "tested for authenticity."
Co-op Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g at £1.55, scored 3.5/5. It was sweeter than Hilltop's but offered a subtle floral note, and was described as excellent value, though slightly too sweet. Its main drawback is availability, as not all areas have a Co-op.
Rowse Squeezy Clear Honey, 340g at £3 from Tesco, scored 3/5. It was the priciest option, described as a touch too sweet and lacking the subtle floral notes of top-quality honey. The label describes it as a "blend of honeys from more than one country/Blend of non-EU honeys."
Aldi GRANDESSA Squeezy Honey, 454g at £1.39, scored 2/5. It was extremely sweet and syrupy, lacking any floral notes, and the label simply reads "honey" with no origin details.
Sainsbury's Runny Honey, 340g at £1.04, scored 1/5. The taste was more reminiscent of golden syrup than genuine honey, overwhelmingly sweet and leaving a lingering soreness in the throat. The label claims it is "Pure Honey (100%)" but omits origin information.
Authenticity and regulation
According to Which?, legally, honey must not contain any added substances, have its pollen removed, or be processed in a way that alters its acidity or harms its natural enzymes. A Government spokesperson said: "There is no place for adulterated honey. We work closely with enforcement authorities to ensure honey sold in the UK is not subject to adulteration."
Devina Sankhla, a food policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium, said: "Our members work with suppliers to ensure the authenticity of their honey, conducting regular checks to ensure all honey they sell is as described. Retailers continue to support the development of improved techniques to detect any adulterated honey, so they can continue to ensure customers get the best products on the shelves."
A 2021 Guardian article highlighted that about a third of UK honey imports come from China, but this rarely appears on supermarket labels. The UK also brings in large quantities of honey from India, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
The verdict
Hilltop's Honey Blossom honey was the clear favourite and a brand the tester said they would definitely buy again. For those on a budget, Co-op's honey was recommended as a great choice that still delivers good flavour.
The tester now plans to buy honey from a single country of origin when possible, noting that while single-origin honey costs more than blended varieties, the difference in taste and quality is striking. The advice is to seek out local honey, or if not, always check the packaging to see where the honey comes from.
