Granola is similar to muesli, but baked with a sugar syrup (maple syrup, honey or golden syrup, say). It’s by definition sweet, and I find sugar addictive, so I enjoy it only rarely as a treat. The best ones come in golden clusters; sweet, but not too sweet (under 10% is low, over 15% high), with a touch of salt and a range of whole grains, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. I also love ones that include toasted coconut, because it adds complexity and flavour at not too much extra cost.

The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.

The quality of this test group was pretty high across the board, with nutty bargains, luxuriously indulgent, sugar-packed treats and, to my surprise, some really healthy, low-sugar wholefood options.

The best supermarket granolaBest overall:
Eat Natural low-sugar granola£4.10 for 450g at Sainsbury’s (91p/100g)£4.10 for 450g at Ocado (91p/100g)

★★★★☆

Clusters of medium-roast oats with a generous helping of toasted coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Flavoured with buckwheat, and just 4.4% sugar (sweetened with coconut blossom nectar and prebiotic chicory root fibre).

Best bargain:
Tesco Finest super nutty granola£3 for 500g at Tesco (60p/100g)

★★★☆☆

Generous clusters of dark roasted oats, spelt and barley, alongside 15% nuts, including almonds. At 12% sugar, not too sweet, but it also contains flavouring, which seems unnecessary. Brilliant value for a tasty, classic granola.

And the rest …Scrumshus the premium granola£4.80 for 500g at Waitrose (96p/100g)£4.80 for 500g at Amazon (96p/100g)

★★★★☆

Large clusters of dark-roast oats sweetened with a generous amount of honey and a drizzle of maple syrup, creating a floral, aromatic and deeply flavourful granola. Full of delicious nuts, seeds and dried fruit (raisins and cranberries). Super-sweet (31.6% sugar) but wonderfully indulgent. More a dessert granola than a breakfast staple.

Bio&Me super seedy & nutty granola£2.95 for 360g at Waitrose (82p/100g)£3.50 for 360g at Tesco (97p/100g)

★★★★☆

A healthy, almost savoury wholefood granola with small, dark-roasted clusters of oats, puffed brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa, with an incredible range of nuts and seeds. Made with extra-virgin olive oil and no added sugars (9.7% overall). Contains dates, dried carrots and chicory root.

Nibs Etc rye, hazelnut & cacao granola£5.50 for 360g at Ocado (£1.53/100g)

★★★★☆

Small-batch, UK-made, cacao-rich rye clusters sweetened with upcycled British apple pulp (saved from juice makers) and a drizzle of maple syrup. Generously fortified with sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and extra virgin rapeseed oil. Quite savoury (just 11% sugar), and my best splurge for the health and eco-conscious.

Morrisons the Best nuts & seed granola£3 for 500g at Morrisons (60p/100g)

★★★☆☆

A classic granola with small clusters of oats, seeds and nuts, including pecans. Almost 20% nuts and seeds, a great ratio for this price, though it doesn’t feature any dried fruit. The coconut stands out, though. Uncertified palm oil and 13% sugar.

Spoon x Manilife peanut butter granola£3 for 400g at Waitrose (75p/100g)£3.50 for 400g at Ocado (88p/100g)

★★★☆☆

Small dark clusters of peanut-coated granola with raisins and peanuts with 13% peanut butter, too, which makes it very nutty. Contains 16% sugar, but this one is sweetened with date syrup, which has a low to moderate GI. Spoon donates 1% of turnover to planetary charities.

Gail’s toasted coconut rye & maple granola£5.50 for 350g at Waitrose (£1.57/100g)

★★★☆☆

Small, well-roasted clusters of oat, rye and millet, with lots of coconut and a hint of vanilla. Very sweet with muscovado sugar and maple syrup (17% sugar). No nuts, seeds or dried fruit.

Dorset Cereals nutty granola£4 for 450g at Tesco (89p/100g)£4 for 450g at Sainsbury’s (89p/100g)

★★☆☆☆

Small, medium-roast oat and rye clusters sweetened with golden syrup (13.1% sugar). No dried fruit and, at just 7.5%, scant on nuts (almond, hazelnut and cashew), too. Naturally flavoured, and with desiccated coconut.

Fuel10K chocolate chunks granola£3 for 400g at Asda (75p/100g)£3.80 for 400g at Co-op (95p/100g)

★☆☆☆☆

Big, firm, crunchy oat clusters with pumpkin seeds and pieces of dark chocolate. Fortified with wheat protein (which gives it an odd taste of baby rusks) and vitamins. Contains glucose and 17.5% sugar, which seems at odds with the health messaging.