In a blind taste test of six supermarket cream of tomato soups, a 59p tin from Sainsbury's emerged as the clear winner, scoring 9 out of 10 and outperforming the iconic Heinz brand, which managed only 3 out of 10. The test, conducted by Express journalist Jennifer Pinto, evaluated each soup on taste, texture, smell, appearance, aftertaste, and overall satisfaction.
Heinz Disappoints
Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup, priced at £1.30 at Sainsbury's and £1.59 at Tesco, was a major letdown. Pinto said: "I actually didn't like the Heinz tomato soup much at all. There's a nostalgic flavour there, and the texture is solid, but the colour felt unnaturally bright orange, the taste was overly sweet, and overall it came across as quite processed." She added that the lingering sweetness was too much, especially given the higher price compared to other options.
Aldi and Lidl Middle of the Pack
Aldi's Bramwells Cream of Tomato Soup, at 59p, was the closest competitor to Heinz among the supermarket options but fell short on depth of flavour. Pinto noted: "It was still too sweet but not quite as overpowering, and had that orange fluorescent colour and the texture was too watery." She gave it 4 out of 10. Lidl's Newgate Cream of Tomato Soup, also 59p, scored 4.5 out of 10, being slightly darker and less vivid in colour but still excessively sweet and lacking body.
Tesco and M&S Offer Improvements
Tesco Cream Of Tomato Soup, 59p, boasts 91% tomato content and uses tomato purée instead of whole tomatoes, along with double cream for a smoother texture. Despite this, Pinto found it still tasted processed with a slight chemical flavour, scoring 5 out of 10. M&S Cream of Tomato Soup, 60p, fared better with a velvety texture and less sweetness. Pinto said: "The colour is darker, and it has a richer tomato taste. Overall, it feels like a great-quality soup for the price and a great alternative to Heinz," giving it 7 out of 10.
Waitrose Runner-Up
Waitrose Cream of Tomato Soup, at 80p the most expensive supermarket option, took second place with 8.5 out of 10. Pinto described it as "probably the closest to a homemade bowl of soup. It wasn't too sweet and felt lighter, with a more natural, less processed taste. The colour was also a deep red which made it feel more rich and tomato-heavy."
Sainsbury's Takes the Crown
Sainsbury's Cream of Tomato Soup, 59p, won the taste test with a score of 9 out of 10. Pinto praised its balance: "It didn't taste too sweet or too salty, and it felt light without being sickly even after a full bowl, while still being comforting. The texture was smooth and velvety rather than watery. Overall, it had a better balance of sweetness and acidity, with stronger tomato flavour and less water dilution."
