I tried supermarket marmalade – a 99p own-brand winner tastes better than M&S and Aldi

Scottish Sun

29-04-2025

Plus we reveal more ways you can save on your supermarket shop
SPREAD THE COST I tried supermarket marmalade – a 99p own-brand winner tastes better than M&S and Aldi
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MARMALADE has been in decline with most households preferring nut butters or Nutella on their morning toast.
Not even the release of the Paddington movies has helped sales.
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A 99p own-brand winner tastes better than M&S
Credit: Oliver Dixon
And those who do buy it are mainly over 65, making up around 60% sales.
However, we think younger generations are missing out.
There's nothing better than a deliciously tangy marmalade on your morning toast and it's cheap, too.
LYNSEY HOPE finds out which taste the best, and which ones you might want to leave on the shelf.
Morrisons Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (420g)
79p
19p per 100g
10
Morrisons scored 5/10 overall
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "Very amber in colour, this had an alright flavour but it was lacking in peel.
"There is only 20g of fruit per 100g in this jar and the peel that was there was a little thick and got stuck between the teeth, which I didn't enjoy.
"I thought the marmalade was overly sweet and sugary and lacking in bitterness. The price is good."
The Granny Cool marmalade that was rejected by Dragons Den but now sells worldwide
Taste: 2/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 5/10
Wilkin and Sons Limited Old Times Orange Marmalade (340g)
£2.60
76.5p per 100g
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Wilkin & Sons is a well known big brand alternative
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "Incredibly pretty in colour with a real amber glow. It looks pure and clear but it wasn't as sweet or as bitter as I'd have liked.
"There's a generous amount of fruit with 30g per 100g of spread. It's made with Seville oranges and the orange flavour was spot on. Shame it's SO pricey.
"Own brand jars were a third of the price."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 7/10
Aldi Grandessa Fine Cut Marmalade (454g)
75p
16.5p per 100g
10
Aldi's jars come in at 75p
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "Aldi is normally a firm favourite for delicious food finds, but this was a disappointment.
"It was thick, like a jelly cube and there was no taste of fruit.
"The overwhelming taste was sugar. The orange flavour was lacking, there was no bitterness and hardly any peel.
"It was the cheapest jar, but it'll likely end up in the bin."
Taste: 1/5
Value: 2/5
Total score: 3/10
Asda Tangy Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g)
79p
17.4p per 100g
10
Asda's offering did pretty well at 9/10
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "A lovely amber coloured spread with decent-sized bits of peel included.
"It's tangy, mildly bitter and whilst it is quite sugary, there's no nasty glucose fructose syrup, which is sometimes found in cheaper brands.
"There is 20g fruit per 100g, and no artificial colours or flavours. It's great value, too."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Total score: 9/10
How to save money on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Lidl Maribel Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (450g)
99p
22p per 100g
10
Lidl's marmalade stole the show
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "An impressive marmalade for the price. The jar was a little smaller so it wasn't as cheap as some supermarkets but this was worth ab it extra.
"It contained a generous 35 of fruit per 100g and the ingredients list was simpler than some others containing nothing other than sugar, oranges, water, citric acid and a gelling agent.
"It was a thinner consistency than some but I liked the shade of orange and there was just the right amount of peel.
"It had a lovely flavour, bitter, but no aftertaste. My favourite jar."
Taste: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Total score: 10/10
Tesco Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g)
80p
18p per 100g
10
We gave Tesco a 6/10 overall
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "A budget offering beaten only by Aldi and Asda on price, but this tasted more like jam.
"It had a jelly like consistency and whilst there was a nice orange flavour, it didn't really taste like marmalade at all.
"There wasn't enough fruit though it was on a par with some of the other budget jars, containing 20g fruit per 100g spread."
Taste: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 6/10
Essential Waitrose Fine Cut Seville Orange Marmalade (454g)
£1
22p per 100g
10
Waitrose was a bit more pricey than most of the supermarkets
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "A delicious, well-balanced flavour with a generous amount of orange peel that gives a good, bitter kick.
"It felt like a good quality spread, and good value. A lovely, spreadable consistency though it could possibly do with a bit more fruity flavour.
"At 35% fruit though, there's quite a lot in the mix for your money."
Taste: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Total score: 8/10
M&S Seville Orange Marmalade Fine Cut (340g)
£2.25
66.2p per 100g
10
M&S' was more expensive than the other options
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "I had high hopes for the M&S spread given the price and usual M&S quality but this marmalade was too thick and gloopy and it tasted very bitter and overly strong.
"It looked very dark compared to the others and there was so much peel it was difficult to spread.
"It did contain a very high amount of fruit with 38g per 100g of spread, but this didn't do it any favours."
Taste: 2/5
Value: 2/5
Total score: 4/10
Sainsbury's Fine Cut Orange Marmalade (454g)
85p
19p per 100g
10
Sainsbury's scored 3/5 on both taste and value
Credit: Oliver Dixon
Lynsey says: "This looks rather luminous in colour but the texture is spot on and it has a good, deep, bittersweet flavour.
"It's quite sugary when lathered on toast and has around 26g of fruit per 100g of marmalade.
"Overall, inoffensive, easy to eat and a reasonably priced option."
Taste: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Total score: 6/10
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