In a recent blind taste test conducted by consumer champions Which?, supermarket own-brand cheddar cheeses were pitted against major brands including Cathedral City and Davidstow. The results revealed that Tesco's Finest Mature English Cheddar Cheese emerged as the top contender, scoring 78% and earning praise for its taste and texture.
Tesco Finest Takes the Crown
Tesco Finest Mature English Cheddar Cheese impressed testers with its 'firm, smooth' texture and well-balanced salt content. The cheese was described as 'pleasingly crumbly and creamy', securing a clear victory over its competitors. Priced at £4 for 350g, it was considered 'about average price wise', though not the most affordable option.
Second Place: Davidstow Classic Cheddar
The Davidstow Classic Cheddar took second place with a score of 75%. Despite being among the most expensive cheeses in the comparison at £4.75 for 350g (£1.36 per 100g), it received a 'best buy' accolade from Which?.
Other Rankings
- M&S Cornish Cove Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.25 for 350g) secured third place.
- Castello Tickler Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.75 for 300g) came fourth.
- Cathedral City Mature Cheddar (£3.50 for 350g) and Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar (£4.20 for 350g) tied for fifth place.
- Sainsbury’s Barber’s Mature Cruncher Cheese (£4 for 350g) and Aldi’s Specially Selected West Country Mature Cheddar (£2.99 for 350g) followed in sixth place.
- The Co-op's Irresistible Somerset Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.50 for 340g) ranked last.
Previous Taste Test Success for Supermarkets
This is not the first time supermarket own-brand products have outperformed big-name brands in Which? blind taste tests. Earlier this year, two supermarket instant coffees ranked higher than well-known brands like Nescafé, Kenco, and Douwe Egberts. M&S Gold Instant Coffee and Waitrose Gold Roast shared top spot with a 70% customer score, impressing tasters with their flavour, aroma, and appearance.
