LifestyleFood & DrinkIce creamConsumer watchdog Which? has crowned the best vanilla ice cream in a blind taste test of ten brands.16:39, 03 Jul 2026There's nothing quite like a delicious, creamy bowl of ice cream to enjoy on a scorching summer's day. With a vast array of flavours and brands available, it can be tricky to choose your favourite or determine the best choice.‌However, one thing's for certain – you simply cannot go wrong with vanilla-flavoured ice cream, a timeless classic adored universally.‌To establish which brand of vanilla ice cream offers the best value for shoppers, consumer watchdog Which? carried out a blind taste test that saw 63 dessert enthusiasts sample ten different ice creams, including supermarket own brands and those from well-known major companies.‌The winner was crowned for boasting the finest texture and flavour, surpassing the likes of Häagen-Dazs and Yeo Valley.The winner?Claiming the top spot was Aldi, whose Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream secured an impressive score of 77% from taste testers, outshining every other brand.‌The watchdog revealed: "Aldi was the top choice for our tasters. And as it's one of the cheapest on test at less than £3 (£2.69), it also wins our Great Value award."They added: "A delicious crowd-pleasing ice cream that's also the joint cheapest on test. Most thought the strength of flavour and sweetness were just right. Texture was a high point too, with nearly three-quarters finding it had the perfect creaminess."Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Vanilla Ice Cream for £3.50 secured a close second place with a score of 76%. Taste testers praised its "good flavour and a well-balanced sweetness".‌However, it fell short on creaminess, which dragged down its overall rating. Well-known ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream sadly came second from bottom with a rating of 67%, while Yeo Valley secured fourth place with 76% owing to its insufficient creaminess.Responding to their victory, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, Julie Ashfield, said: "In this sunny spell, there's no better time for shoppers to discover the best summer staples.Article continues below"Our Specially Selected Madagascan vanilla ice cream earns both 'Best Buy' and 'Great Value' from Which? - beating far pricier rivals - is the ultimate seal of approval."It shows you don't have to compromise on quality or flavour to stay on budget this summer. A big win for shoppers, who can enjoy a truly indulgent treat at an unbeatable price."Full resultsBest Buy & Great Value: Aldi Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 77% / £2.69Sainsbury's Specially Selected Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 76% / £3.50Waitrose No.1 Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 76% / £4.50Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 76% / £4.75Morrisons The Best Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 75% / £3Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream / 75% / £3.50Lidl Deluxe Vanilla Ice Cream / 72% / £2.69Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream / 67% / £5.75Jude's Vanilla Clotted Cream Ice Cream / 63% / £5Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Best BuySainsbury'sIce creamSupermarkets