A recent taste test has revealed which supermarket jam truly is the best, and even the well-known brand Hartley's couldn't beat the top pick. Budget jars from Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's and Morrisons were put to the test against the leading jam brand.

According to the Daily Dish, which conducted the taste test, the top-scoring jam impressed with a perfect balance of sweetness and texture, as well as generous fruit pieces. Priced nearly £1 cheaper than Hartley's, Aldi's winning jam jar proves you don't need to spend a fortune to get the best-tasting jam.

The expert at the Daily Dish revealed: "Surprise winner! Aldi's budget-friendly jam delivered an unexpectedly premium experience that had our tasters reaching for seconds. The vibrant colour and glossy finish looked remarkably similar to the Hartley's offering."

What stood out most to the expert was the generous amount of raspberry pieces, with each spoonful containing noticeable fruit that gave it a homemade feel. The sweetness was well-balanced without tasting artificial.

The jam has a smooth, consistent texture that spreads easily without dripping. At 89p, they said it outperformed rivals, costing nearly twice as much. The expert concluded: "A genuine bargain that doesn't compromise on flavour."

However, the leading Jam brand, Hartley's, whose brand dates back to 1871 and costs £1.85 at Tesco, was uninspiring compared to the supermarket brands

The expert explained: "Taste-wise, it offers a balanced sweetness with recognisable raspberry chunks, though we noticed it wasn't dramatically different from some cheaper alternatives. The texture is pleasantly smooth with just enough bits to remind you it's made from real fruit."

In second place was Lidl's jam. This jar has a deep ruby colour, strong raspberry aroma and visible seeds and fruit pieces. It struck an excellent balance between sweetness and fruit flavour and stayed well on toast.

The Daily Dish did not number the rest of their ranking but stated that Tesco's jam was a solid all-rounder with good balance and firmness. Asda's jam was easy to spread with a consistent raspberry flavour.

Sainsbury's jam has a smoother, more refined texture, though it's less fruit-forward. Lastly, Morrisons' jam is reliable but didn't stand out among the others.

The food expert admitted that "all the supermarket options [they] tested cost around half the price of the branded leader (Hartley's), yet several matched or exceeded it in quality."

Our Senior Audience reporter Sophie Harris also conducted a raspberry jam taste test and admitted the results were "surprising." Comparing Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Tesco and Asda to Hartleys, she couldn't believe how different they tasted from one another.

Just like the Daily Dish, Sophie also crowned Aldi the winner. She commented: "Aldi's jam was absolutely delicious with a great flavour which wasn't artificial at all.

"The texture was spot on, and it wasn't overly sweet or too tangy; it was just right and topped the taste test." Hartley's jam, however, had a noticeably grainy texture, Sophie admitted.

The consistency was far too thick, almost jelly-like, rather than smooth and spreadable. She also mentioned that the jam was quite sweet, and while the flavour was enjoyable, it wasn't enough to make it stand out.

In the end, she said it still didn't beat Aldi. What do you think of the ranking? What is your go-to supermarket jam? Let us know in the comments below.

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