In a Which? blind taste test, supermarket cheddar cheeses were pitted against major brands including Cathedral City and Davidstow08:33, 11 Jun 2026Opting for big-name brands might seem the safest choice for ensuring top quality and exceptional taste, but supermarket own-label products are repeatedly beating them in blind taste tests.‌Consumer champions Which? have been putting various products to the test - from pork sausages to instant coffee - and supermarkets have come out on top more often than you might expect.‌In one of their most recent taste tests, Which? set supermarket cheddar cheeses against leading brands including Cathedral City and Davidstow, and it was Tesco that won over the testers.‌Tesco Finest Mature English Cheddar Cheese achieved a score of 78%, winning acclaim for its taste and 'firm, smooth' texture, the Metro reports.Testers praised the salt levels and depth of flavour in the cheese, while also describing it as 'pleasingly crumbly and creamy', reports the Liverpool Echo.‌Despite being an own-brand cheese, the Tesco Finest cheddar isn't necessarily cheaper than all major brands, retailing at £4 for 350g, although it was considered 'about average price wise'.A more expensive cheese claimed second spot - the Davidstow Classic Cheddar - which scored 75%.However, it was also among the priciest cheeses in the comparison at £4.75 for 350g (£1.36 per 100g).‌Despite this, the Davidstow block was awarded a 'best buy' recommendation from Which. M&S claimed third spot with its Cornish Cove Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.25 for 350g), while Castello Tickler Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.75 for 300g) landed in fourth.Cathedral City Mature Cheddar (£3.50 for 350g) could only manage joint-fifth alongside Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar (£4.20 for 350g).Sainsbury's Barber's Mature Cruncher Cheese (£4 for 350g) and Aldi's Specially Selected West Country Mature Cheddar (£2.99 for 350g) came in sixth.‌Bottom of the pile was Co-op's Irresistible Somerset Mature Cheddar Cheese (£4.50 for 340g).In another Which? blind taste test conducted this year, two supermarket instant coffees beat out household-name brands.‌Proving that premium labels don't always deliver the best results, both Marks & Spencer and Waitrose managed to outperform Nescafé, Kenco and Douwe Egberts in the rankings. Results were based on flavour, appearance, aroma and mouthfeel.The supermarket own-label options were also more affordable than their branded rivals, although price wasn't a consideration for shoppers given the blind nature of the testing.M&S Gold Instant Coffee and Waitrose Gold Roast jointly topped the table with a stellar 70% customer score.Article continues belowThe M&S product excelled across flavour, aroma and appearance. Almost two-thirds of participants were pleased with the strength of flavour, while nearly three-quarters approved of the bitterness levels.Waitrose performed impressively in every category, making an excellent initial impact with its look and smell, which was reinforced by a noteworthy taste. Well over half of participants felt the coffee's strength hit the mark perfectly, while nearly two-thirds appreciated the bitter notes.