Cheddar cheese is a staple beloved across Britain, versatile enough to enhance everything from sandwiches and toast to baked potatoes and crackers. Originating from Somerset, it accounts for over half of all cheese sales nationwide, available in flavors ranging from mild to extra mature. But with countless options lining supermarket shelves, which Cheddar truly reigns supreme?
Becca Stock, a Gloucestershire foodie with over 567,000 TikTok followers (@beccaeatseverything), recently set out to answer that question. Known for her honest and entertaining food critiques, Becca sampled 30 different Cheddar cheeses sourced from major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, and Iceland.
Starting her Cheddar taste test, Becca vowed to rank the cheeses from “worst to best” and called it “cheese heaven” being able to taste so many varieties in one go. At the bottom of her list was Violife Supreme Cheddarton, a dairy-free cheese alternative. Becca described the flavor as horrid, saying it reminded her of “sweet plasticine” and gave it a 0 out of 10.
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Her top picks, however, presented a different story. Aldi’s Spicy Cheddar with Chilli earned fifth place with a 9.5 out of 10 rating. Becca praised its smooth, creamy texture balanced with an intense chilli heat that built up with every bite.
Fourth place went to Aldi’s Specially Selected Extra Mature Cheddar, which she declared “amazing” for lovers of bold, strong cheese, awarding it a perfect 10 out of 10. Lidl’s Deluxe Somerset Crunchy Extra Mature Cheddar came in third, eliciting a delighted reaction as she called it “cheese heaven” for its creamy yet crumbly consistency and impactful flavor, also scoring a 10.
In second place was Ivy’s Reserve Vintage Somerset Cheddar, available in several supermarket chains and notable as the world’s first carbon-neutral Cheddar. Becca loved its sweet, nutty, and slightly caramelised taste, describing it as perfect for cheese on toast and rating it a flawless 10.
Topping the list at number one was Marks and Spencer’s Barber’s Farmhouse Truffle Cheddar. Becca was instantly impressed by its bold truffle aroma and complex layers of sweetness, smokiness, and nuttiness, calling it “the best truffle cheese I’ve ever had” and awarding it a 10 out of 10.
From creamy to crumbly, mild to spicy, Becca’s tasting journey highlights just how diverse Cheddar can be and points to some exceptional supermarkets choices for cheese lovers to seek out.