Weetabix is one of the most popular cereal brands on the market, but the price has risen a lot over the years, with most supermarkets selling their own wheat biscuits as cheaper alternatives.
I tried wheat biscuits from Lidl, Aldi and 6 more shops – 3 were better than Weetabix(Image: Angela Patrone)
Cereal isn’t typically part of my regular breakfast routine, but for numerous families, it’s a household essential. Among the most well-known cereal brands available is Weetabix, which complements sliced bananas and strawberries beautifully. Nevertheless, the cost of Weetabix has increased substantially over recent years and can add significantly to a costly grocery bill.
I was taken aback when I visited Sainsbury’s and discovered that the cost of a standard 24-pack of Weetabix stands at £3.50, particularly as most supermarket own-label versions fall within the £1.70 to £2 range. Therefore, in the interest of economising and to determine whether any alternatives matched the original, I resolved to sample all of the supermarket wheat biscuits I could locate from Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. I found certain ones rather cardboard-like, though my preferred option proved to be amongst the most affordable on the list. While sampling all of the brands, I used identical quantities of milk for each to observe how rapidly they soaked up the milk.
I found some of them cardboard-like, but my favourite turned out to be one of the cheapest(Image: Angela Patrone)
When tasting all of the brands, I used the same amount of milk for each(Image: Angela Patrone)
TescoCost: £1.80
Beginning impressively and amongst the most economical of the selection, the Tesco wheat biscuits were delightful. These wheat biscuits are a taste triumph, with a robust flavour and excellent texture that maintains its integrity well in the breakfast bowl. A remarkable supermarket alternative and a worthwhile saving.
Rating: 9/10AldiCost: £2.19
While browsing the cereal aisle in Aldi, I noticed they only stocked a 36-pack of wheat biscuits. Nevertheless, this quantity is ideal for keeping the whole family fed at breakfast time without the supply dwindling too rapidly.
The moment I poured milk onto the breakfast biscuit, I observed it was being absorbed extremely quickly, leaving it disappointingly soggy. It disintegrated in my mouth and was thoroughly bland and flavourless.
Rating: 4/10
Tesco and Aldi wheat biscuits(Image: Angela Patrone)
LidlCost: £2.19
Much like Aldi, Lidl’s wheat biscuits were exclusively available in a 36-pack. These wheat biscuits were equally swift at absorbing milk and becoming soggy – rapidly so. The taste left a lot to be desired.
Rating: 3/10AsdaCost: £1.77
Turning to the most affordable wheat biscuits on our list, we arrive at Asda. These featured amongst my top three picks as they maintained their structure and consistency admirably when milk was introduced, and the taste proved pleasing.
Rating: 7/10
Lidl and Asda wheat biscuits(Image: Angela Patrone)
WaitroseCost: £2.25
Dropping from the top three to the second-lowest ranked option, the Waitrose wheat biscuits were a considerable disappointment, particularly given their price point. While the consistency was satisfactory, the unpleasant taste significantly hampered their score, taking them to last place.
Rating 3/10M&SCost: £2.10
Priced identically to Waitrose, I had higher expectations regarding the taste. The flavour was reasonably pleasant, though it failed to maintain its texture as effectively as several rival wheat biscuits.
Rating: 6/10MorrisonsCost: £1.90
The Morrisons wheat biscuits not only soaked up the milk at an incredibly rapid pace, but the flavour was poor as well. These wheat biscuits came bottom in this taste test – they possessed an awful cardboard-like taste that remained for some time.
Rating: 2/10
M&S and Morrisons wheat biscuits(Image: Angela Patrone)
Sainsbury’s and Weetabix wheat biscuits(Image: Angela Patrone)
WeetabixCost: £3.50
Prior to sampling it, one aspect I appreciated about Weetabix was the paper packaging – it proved far simpler to open compared to the supermarket alternatives. Not having eaten Weetabix for quite some time, I was anticipating great things, but they didn’t taste as I recalled them. The flavour was underwhelming, though the texture was excellent. They were fairly unremarkable, so I don’t believe they justify the £3.50 outlay.
Rating: 6/10Sainsbury’sCost: £1.80
Were it not for the box, I would’ve assumed this was a leading brand. These wheat biscuits were my absolute favourite. They possessed the ideal texture, flavour and sweetness. Once I poured the milk, they maintained a bite without being dry. Should you enjoy wheat biscuits and wish to save almost £2 on your shop, I’d certainly recommend switching to the Sainsbury’s own-brand alternative.
Rating: 10/10