Marks and Spencer's Pink Lady Apple Juice emerged as the clear winner in a blind taste test comparing apple juices from five major UK supermarkets. The M&S offering scored 9 out of 10, praised for its fresh, authentic apple flavour that made sipping it feel like biting into a real apple.
Taste Test Overview
Journalist Holly Kintuka conducted the comparison, testing apple juices from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Lidl, and M&S. With the UK experiencing extremely high temperatures, staying hydrated was a priority, and apple juice, comprising about 88% water, offers a refreshing option with natural sugars and electrolytes like potassium.
All five juices were found to be pleasant, with several tasting very similar. However, M&S stood out for its superior freshness and flavour profile.
Detailed Rankings
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Pink Lady Apple Juice
Price: £2.50. Rating: 7/10. This pressed apple juice was sweet and tasted fresh, but lacked crispness compared to others. The sweetness became slightly sickly after a few sips, making it a less likely repeat purchase.
Asda Apple Juice
Price: £2.00. Rating: 8/10. Asda's offering was sweet and refreshing, with a fuller, more rounded apple flavour that was less sharp than Sainsbury's. It was well-suited for hot weather.
Lidl Naturis Apple Juice
Price: £1.99. Rating: 8/10. Lidl's juice had a similar rounded apple flavour to Asda's, without a sharp taste, yet remained fresh and crisp. The taster noted they could have finished half the bottle in one go due to its deliciousness.
Tesco Apple Juice
Price: £2.00 or £1.80 with Clubcard. Rating: 8.5/10. Tesco's juice was sweet with a hint of ripeness and a crisp finish. Its lower price for Clubcard members gave it a slight edge over similar-tasting competitors.
Marks and Spencer Pink Lady Apple Juice
Price: £4.00. Rating: 9/10. The standout winner, M&S's juice tasted the most fresh and authentic, with each sip evoking the sensation of biting into a fresh apple. Despite the higher price, the quality justified the cost, and the taster plans to purchase it again.
Conclusion
While all five supermarket apple juices were enjoyable, M&S Pink Lady Apple Juice won for its exceptional freshness and flavour. For budget-conscious shoppers, Tesco with a Clubcard offered the best value at £1.80, earning an 8.5/10 rating.
