Aldi's Specially Selected White Sourdough Sliced Loaf has been named the best supermarket sourdough in a comparative taste test, scoring 5/5 and beating Jason's, Sainsbury's, and Co-op.
The test, conducted by Millie Bull, Deputy Editor of Spare Time, assessed each loaf on flavour, price, packaging, ingredients, and toasting ability. Each slice was toasted for three minutes until lightly browned and finished with a thin layer of butter.
Aldi's Sourdough Takes Top Spot
Aldi's loaf, priced at £1.89 for 500g, was described as having a wonderfully tangy flavour with a satisfying saltiness. The crust was pleasingly chewy with a subtle nutty undertone, and it performed exceptionally well when toasted.
It shares the same five ingredients as Jason's loaf—wheat flour, water, rye flour, salt, and fermented wheat flour—and comes in similar recyclable paper packaging. However, the clear window must be separated from the bag and taken to a recycling point.
Jason's Sourdough in Second Place
Jason's The Great White Sourdough, priced at £2.25 for 450g at Sainsbury's, scored 4.5/5. It was praised for its lovely tangy flavour and light, chewy texture, similar to loaves from a neighbourhood bakery. It also toasts beautifully, keeps well, and comes in recyclable paper packaging.
The main reasons it didn't claim first place were its somewhat smaller size and marginally higher price compared to Aldi's 500g loaf. It is regularly featured in Sainsbury's Nectar prices, which makes it more affordable.
Co-op and Sainsbury's Rankings
Co-op Irresistible Slice White Sourdough, priced at £2.95 for 500g, scored 4/5. It was noted for its outstanding flavour—well-seasoned with a delightful, tangy, nutty taste—and its crust was chewy and tangy, making it the best in flavour alone. However, the plastic packaging isn't easily resealable, and the price was considered too high, especially since Aldi's is the same size and more than £1 cheaper.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Sourdough Medium Sliced White Bread, priced at £2 for 400g, scored 3/5. While the flavour was pleasant with a satisfying tang and notable saltiness, the texture was its downfall, developing a cardboard-like quality once toasted. It was the only one of the four to contain soya flour and the flour treatment agent ascorbic acid.
