Supermarket Cheddar Triumphs Over Cathedral City in Blind Taste Test
In a recent blind taste test conducted by consumer champion Which?, supermarket branded cheddar cheese has proven to be creamier and more crumbly than the popular Cathedral City brand. The rigorous assessment, which evaluated flavour, scent, appearance, and texture, crowned Waitrose's Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar as the top performer with an impressive score of 77%.
Which? Awards "Best Buy" to Waitrose Cheddar
Expert panellists from Which? bestowed the coveted "best buy" accolade on Waitrose's offering after thorough testing. Priced at £3.18 for a 350g block, this mature cheddar was praised for having "just the right smoothness and creaminess" and "perfect saltiness" by most tasters. Two-thirds of participants agreed that "the strength of flavour was just right," while an equal number appreciated its crumbliness.
Despite not being the cheapest supermarket own-brand cheddar, Waitrose's Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar undercuts market leaders Cathedral City and Pilgrims Choice. For comparison, Cathedral City Mature Cheddar Cheese is priced at £4.25 for a 350g block, and Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar sells for £3.30 for the same portion at Waitrose.
Personal Taste Test Confirms Superiority
Upon personal examination, the Waitrose cheese exhibited a considerably more potent aroma than Cathedral City. When sliced, the Cathedral City block cut through fairly effortlessly, while the Waitrose alternative was significantly more crumbly—a characteristic expected from a mature cheddar.
Sampling each cheese revealed that Cathedral City leaned towards the milder end, despite being marketed as "mature." It possessed a velvety texture and delivered a decent amount of saltiness. In contrast, the Waitrose Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar was found to be richer, silkier, and creamier, with a flavour that lingered on the palate.
When used in toasties, both cheeses melted exceptionally well and appeared similar in colour. However, the robust flavour of the Waitrose cheese made it the clear winner. Given its superior taste and affordability, many consumers may consider switching to this supermarket brand.
How Other Supermarket Cheddars Fared
The Which? taste test also evaluated other supermarket mature cheddar cheeses, with the following scores:
- M&S Cornish Cove Mature Cheddar – 76%
- Aldi Specially Selected West Country Mature Cheddar Cheese – 74%
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Barber's Mature Cruncher Cheese – 74%
- Tesco Finest Mature English Cheddar – 73%
- Morrisons The Best Somerset Cheddar Crunch – 72%
- Cathedral City Our Mature Cheddar – 71%
- Co-op Irresistible Somerset Mature Cheddar – 68%
- Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar – 68%
This comprehensive testing highlights the competitive landscape of supermarket cheddars, with Waitrose emerging as a standout choice for those seeking quality and value in their cheese selections.
