With another heatwave approaching the UK, consumers now have a clear winner for their supermarket ice cream purchase. Consumer champions at Which? conducted a blind taste test with 63 participants, pitting supermarket own-brands against premium labels, and Aldi's Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream emerged as the overall champion.
Aldi Takes Top Spot with 77% Score
Aldi's offering, priced at just £2.69 for 480ml, achieved an overall score of 77%. It was described as 'delicious' and a 'crowd-pleaser', with nearly three-quarters of tasters praising its texture and 'perfect creaminess'. The strength of flavour and sweetness were deemed 'just right'. Which? also awarded it a 'great value award' as one of the cheapest options available.
Tied for Second: Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Yeo Valley
Three ice creams tied for second place with 76% each: Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50 for 480ml), Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.50 for 500ml), and Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.75 for 500ml). Sainsbury's was noted for 'good flavour' and 'well-balanced sweetness', though it lacked the creaminess of Aldi. Waitrose was a 'well-liked all-rounder', winning approval from two-thirds of tasters for appearance and flavour. Yeo Valley was the top branded pick, rated highly for colour, texture, and sweetness, but some found it 'lacking in creaminess'.
Morrisons and Tesco in Joint Third
Morrisons The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3 for 480ml) and Tesco's Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50 for 480ml) both scored 75%. Morrisons was praised for its 'great price', with two-thirds of tasters liking its flavour, sweetness, texture, and creaminess. Tesco was described as 'creamy with a good texture', though tasters felt it needed 'stronger flavour and a little extra sweetness'.
Lidl, Häagen-Dazs, and Jude's at the Bottom
Lidl's Deluxe Vanilla Ice Cream (£2.69 for 480ml) scored 72%, the lowest among supermarket own-brands, but still deemed a 'good budget option' with 'pleasant creamy texture'. Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream, the priciest at £5.75 for 460ml, scored 67%, with mixed opinions on flavour and texture. Jude's Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream (£5 for 460ml) scored 63%, described as 'a bit on the bland side'.
Full Ranking from the Blind Taste Test
- Aldi Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£2.69/480ml) – 77%
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50/480ml) – 76%
- Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.50/500ml) – 76%
- Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.75/500ml) – 76%
- Morrisons The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3/480ml) – 75%
- Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50/480ml) – 75%
- Lidl Deluxe Vanilla Ice Cream (£2.69/480ml) – 72%
- Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream (£5.75/460ml) – 67%
- Jude's Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream (£5/460ml) – 63%
M&S Collection West Country Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Ice Cream was also tested but excluded from final results due to a recipe reformulation.
How the Taste Test Was Conducted
The blind tasting took place in June 2026 with a panel of 63 ice cream buyers representative of UK adults in age and gender. Ice cream was served in random order in private booths to avoid bias. Tasters rated flavour, aroma, appearance, and texture. The overall score was weighted 50% flavour, 20% appearance, 15% aroma, and 15% texture, based on consumer priorities.
