I compared a range of supermarket jam to the much-love brand.
I compared supermarket jams to see which is best(Image: Mia O’Hare)
Strawberry jam is a kitchen staple for many households as it is a sweet addition to toast and baking. There are plenty of different options available from well-known brands to supermarket own-labels.
It is hard to know which jam to pick for the best taste and value for money. Hartley’s is a much-loved branded jam that is stocked across most supermarkets.
However, it usually comes in much more expensive than supermarket own-brand jams. I decided to put a selection of strawberry jams from various supermarkets to the test, to see whether they could rival the branded option — or even surpass it.
I selected jams from Lidl, Aldi, Asda and M&S to compare against Hartley’s, and the results were surprising.
Best supermarket strawberry jamLidl – 89p
Lidl’s didn’t have much flavour(Image: Mia O’Hare)
Asda’s was quite thick(Image: Mia O’Hare)
Lidl’s jam was the one that came at the bottom of my list due to flavour. Upon opening the jar, it lacked the sweet, fragrant aroma you’d expect from a strawberry jam. Its paler colour compared to the rest, and as a result it meant it finished last in my rankings.
Rating: 3/10
Asda – 89p
Asda’s strawberry jam had a much stronger flavour and deeper colour than Lidl’s. It tasted notably better and, while quite sweet, would make an ideal spread on toast. The only drawback was that I found the consistency slightly too thick for my preference, though I’d certainly buy it again.
Rating: 7/10
Hartley’s – £1.70 from Asda
Hartley’s is a well-known brand of jam(Image: Mia O’Hare)
Aldi came in a close second(Image: Mia O’Hare)
The branded jam had quite a jelly-like consistency and a dense texture. It had a pleasant, sweet flavour typical of strawberry jam, though for me, the texture was ultimately its undoing.
Rating: 7/10
Aldi – 89p
Aldi’s jam offered a rich, deep red colour and an appealing sweet aroma. The jam does contain seeds, though I have no particular preference either way.
I found it lighter in texture than Asda and Hartley’s, with a far better consistency. The taste delivered everything you’d want from a strawberry jam, without being excessively sweet or sharp.
Rating: 9/10
M&S – 90p
M&S came out top(Image: Mia O’Hare)
The M&S jam felt like an indulgence, yet it still comes in at a fraction of the price of the branded alternative. It had a perfect consistency for my liking, spreading easily and bursting with flavour. This jam contains seeds and gives off a homemade quality. For me, it was the clear winner.
Rating: 10/10