Refreshing, slightly sweet, yet tangy—that’s the ideal profile of orange juice. However, with a plethora of options available, it can be quite a task to identify the most flavoursome one. I’ve done lots of taste tests over the months, but I was super excited to try orange juices. I recently embarked on a mission to compare supermarket juices to see how they stack up against each other. The contenders included Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose, and M&S, all pitted against Tropicana.
I opted for orange juice with bits not from concentrate, meaning that, despite being a tad more expensive, the juice is directly squeezed from oranges and bottled without any added water. The taste test proved to be quite enlightening, and the results were rather unexpected.
1. Aldi – £1.75 for 1L
While it boasted a pleasant flavour that struck a balance between sweetness and tanginess, the consistency was a bit too thin for my liking.
Score: 5/10
2. Lidl – £1.75 for 1L
This one had a thicker consistency than Aldi’s and a stronger orange taste, but the squash-like flavour was off-putting.
Score: 3/10
3. Morrisons – £2.25 for 1L
Despite shaking the bottle numerous times, there were hardly any bits present. It was somewhat watery and lacked flavour, which didn’t impress me much.
Score: 4/10
4. Asda – £2 for 1L
Even though I bought the version with bits, they were scarce, and the juice was a tad too citrusy for my palate.
Score: 3/10
5. Tesco – £2 for 1L
The consistency was thick, but excessively so, making it feel like I was drinking a smoothie even after giving it a good shake.
Score: 1/10
6. Sainsbury’s – £2.25 for 1L
The juice smelt fresh, tasted fresh and easily clinched the top spot in my orange juice taste test.
Score: 10/10
7. Tropicana – £2.50 for 900ml
I had high expectations for Tropicana’s orange juice, but I found it indistinguishable from the others.
Score: 8/10
8. Marks and Spencer – £2.25 for 1L
Despite being priced the same as Sainsbury’s, I found their juice far more appealing than this one.
Score: 6/10
9. Waitrose – £2.35 for 1L
This juice boasted a pleasing consistency and a good amount of pulp, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer a tangier flavour.
Score: 5/10
Final thoughts
Despite being pricier than its competitors, I believe it offered good value for money. It’s worth noting that taste preferences for orange juice can vary greatly; while I’m not a fan of overly bitter juices, others might be.
Prices may fluctuate, but these were the prices at my local shops at the time of writing.