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Another heatwave is imminent in the UK, so you better believe we’re going to be stocking up on ice cream.
And thanks to the results of a brand new taste test, we know exactly what we’re going to be buying from the supermarket.
This is because the consumer champions at Which? recently brought together 63 people to blind taste tubs of vanilla ice cream, pitting supermarket own-brands from the likes of Waitrose and Tesco against big names like Häagen-Dazs, Jude’s, and Yeo Valley.
And Metro can exclusively reveal that it was Aldi that was crowned the UK’s best buy.
Which supermarket own-brand ice cream is the best?
Aldi’s Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£2.69 for 480ml) was the winning tub, with an overall score of 77 per cent.
It was hailed as ‘delicious’ and a ‘crowd-pleaser’, and nearly three-quarters of those who tried it loved the texture, sharing that it had the ‘perfect creaminess’.
Many also found the strength of flavour and sweetness levels to be ‘just right’.
This meant the ice cream was the top choice in terms of taste, but it was also victorious in terms of value.
Which? awarded it a ‘great value award’ as it was one of the cheapest available, at less than £3.
Three different ice creams tied for second place, all scoring 76 per cent.
These were Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50 for 480ml), Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.50 for 500ml), and Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£4.75 for 500ml).
Sainsbury’s option was said to have ‘a good flavour’ and a ‘well-balanced sweetness’, and more than half were ‘satisfied’ with the texture.
However, it was ultimately decided that it didn’t quite match up with the Aldi one when it came to creaminess.
As for Waitrose, the premium supermarket ice cream was hailed a ‘well-liked all-rounder’, winning approval from two-thirds of tasters for its appearance and flavour.
And Yeo Valley was the top pick when it came to branded ice cream, as the panel rated it highly for its colour, texture, and sweetness.
The only reason it didn’t manage to secure first place is that some thought it was ‘lacking in creaminess’.
Note: As part of the taste test, people also tried M&S Collection West Country Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Ice Cream, which scored well. However, Which? weren’t able to include it in the final results because M&S has since reformulated the recipe, and the version tested is no longer available.
Ice cream ranking from the blind taste test:
M&S Collection West Country Madagascan Vanilla Luxury Ice Cream was also tried, but since the taste test was completed, the recipe was changed, so it could not be included in the final results.
How did the other ice creams compare?
Morrisons and Tesco were in joint-third place, with scores of 75 per cent.
Morrisons The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3 for 480ml) was praised for its ‘great price’, and two-thirds of tasters were said to be fans of the flavour, sweetness, texture, and creaminess.
Meanwhile, Tesco’s Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream (£3.50 for 480ml) was described as ‘creamy with a good texture’. The overall verdict was that this tub would have been better with ‘stronger flavour and a little extra sweetness’.
Lidl’s Deluxe Vanilla Ice Cream (£2.69 for 480ml) was the lowest scorer out of all the supermarket own-brands, but really it wasn’t far behind the rest, coming in a 72 per cent.
The tasters thought it had a ‘pleasant creamy texture’ and it was still deemed to be a ‘good budget option’.
This leaves Häagen-Dazs and Jude’s at the bottom of the rankings, with scores of 67 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream was the priciest of the bunch at £5.75 for 460ml, and opinions on it were mixed when it came to flavour and texture.
Jude’s Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream (£5 for 460ml) also underwhelmed the panel, who felt it was ‘a bit on the bland side’.
Which is your favourite ice cream?
How was the taste test conducted?
All of the ice cream was blind-tasted and rated by a panel of 63 people in June 2026. The panel was made up of people who buy and eat ice cream, and who broadly represent the demographic profile of adults in the UK (age range, gender split and more).
The ice cream was served in a random order to avoid any bias. Each tester had a private tasting booth so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
The tasters then rated the flavour, aroma, appearance and texture of each brand of ice cream and shared what they liked and disliked.
The overall score given was based on 50 per cent flavour, 20 per cent appearance, 15 per cent aroma and 15 per cent texture. These weightings were what consumers ranked as the most important attributes when tasting ice cream.
Looking for the best ice cream shop in London?
Well, look no further, as we at Metro recently shared one of our absolute favourite spots.
If you happen to be in central London during the heatwave, you’ll want to visit Big Kid Ice Cream.
You’ll find the tiny store tucked away just off Carnaby at 1 Kingly Street.
It’s essentially an ice cream hatch, but don’t be put off by its small size (or very limited seating), as the place packs a real punch.
Founded by Harry Webb in 2022, the independent ice cream brand prides itself on having ‘the craftsmanship of Italian gelato’ as well as all the ‘chaos and nostalgia of Mr Whippy’.
The ‘hole-in-the-wall’ flagship location in Soho regularly goes viral on social media, with people hailing it as ‘London’s best’ ice cream, ‘London’s most fun ice cream’, and ‘London’s quirkiest ice cream shop’.
The menu is filled with experimental, maximalist flavours that would make even the likes of Willy Wonka do a double-take.
Current options include Marmite on Toast, Ube Blueberry Muffin, Tea & Biscuits, Hong Kong French Toast, Black Sesame Oreo, and Olive Oil Baklava.
But if you prefer something a little tamer, there’s bound to be something to suit your tastes, too, with elevated classics like Brown Butter Vanilla and Chocolate Cereal Milk (Coco Pops).
Previous flavours have also included McDonald’s Fries and Cheese & Dill Pickle.
Prices for a single scoop start from £5.50 and rise to £9 for a double. It’s certainly not the cheapest ice cream out there, but you can try before you buy to ensure you’re getting something you’ll really enjoy.
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