Lidl's budget blueberries have been crowned the juiciest and tastiest in a comparison of six supermarkets, beating pricier rivals including M&S. The £1.29 punnet scored a perfect 10/10 in a taste test by the Daily Express, while M&S's £2.50 punnet came second with 9.5/10.
How the taste test was conducted
Angela Patrone, a senior lifestyle reporter, purchased blueberries from Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, M&S, Tesco, and Waitrose. To assess them fairly, she sampled multiple berries from each container, as there is typically an inferior one or two in every pack.
Patrone admitted she was not initially keen on blueberries, finding them rather tasteless, but this comparison demonstrated she had simply not sampled the correct supermarket varieties. Before the test, she anticipated the finest blueberries would come from M&S, but she was proven wrong.
The results from worst to best
Aldi's "sweet and plump" blueberries, costing £1.69, were the second-most affordable option but proved the most flavourless and smallest of all varieties. The sole positive aspect was a relatively extended shelf life. Rating: 3/10.
Sainsbury's "British blueberries" at £2 had one of the largest blueberries, but the berries had minimal flavour and a mushy texture. Rating: 5/10.
Waitrose's "Essential" punnet at £1.90 contained a variety of sizes, with larger berries slightly soft but offering an appealing balance of sweetness and tartness. However, they were rather mushy and had a shorter best-before date. Rating: 7/10.
Tesco's blueberries at £2 were bigger and sweeter than the previous three, living up to their "sweet and plump" billing. Each berry was firm and succulent with a wonderfully sharp tang. Rating: 8/10.
The top two: M&S and Lidl
M&S "British hand-picked blueberries" at £2.50 were wonderfully plump, consistently large and robust with crisp, juicy flesh, meeting expectations for the priciest punnet. Rating: 9.5/10.
Lidl's blueberries at £1.29, the most affordable option, were outstanding: firm, succulent and full of flavour. While not larger than the M&S specimens, Patrone favoured the sweetness and sharpness of these. Rating: 10/10.
