Supermarket strawberries vary widely in sweetness and flavour, according to a comprehensive taste test that measured sugar content and assessed taste. The Waitrose No 1 British speciality strawberries emerged as the best overall, scoring 11 on the Brix scale, while Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British strawberries ranked lowest with a Brix score of five.
Taste test methodology
The test, conducted before the late May heatwave, used a Brix refractometer to measure sugar content in the juice, where each Brix point represents 1% sucrose by mass. Sweetness was prioritized, but tartness, flavour complexity, and aroma were also evaluated. The reviewer, a former strawberry picker in Dorset, noted that fruit with bright red bodies, fresh green leaves, and a powerful aroma generally indicate quality. Since the test, warmer weather may have increased sweetness in currently available berries.
Top performers
Waitrose No 1 British speciality strawberries (£4 for 365g, £1.10/100g) received four stars. These medium-sized, firm, orange-red Driscoll's Zara strawberries, grown by Littywood Farm in Staffordshire, offer a dense bite and complex sweetness. M&S Collection British Red Diamond strawberries (£3.50 for 400g, 88p/100g) also scored four stars, with rich, sweet dark-red berries grown at Hugh Lowe Farms in Kent by Marion Regan, achieving a Brix of 10.
Exceptional by Asda British strawberries (£2.97 for 350g, 85p/100g) earned four stars for their complex, floral flavour and Brix of 10, balanced by subtle sourness. The Ania variety is grown by Sandy Booth at New Forest Fruit in Hampshire. Morrisons strawberries (£2.50 for 350g, 71p/100g) were rated three stars, described as classic candy-red Malling Centenary berries with simple sweetness and a tart finish, Brix 10.
Mid-range options
Aldi Nature's Pick strawberries (£1.59 for 227g, 70p/100g) scored three stars, with large glossy berries but subdued sweetness at Brix six and vegetal notes. No farm or variety details were listed. Lidl Deluxe British strawberries (£2.99 for 400g, 75p/100g) also got three stars; the Blush variety, despite pale colour, surprised with Brix eight. Ocado organic strawberries (£3.50 for 227g, £1.54/100g) were the only imported (Belgium) and organic option, with a tart profile and Brix six. Co-op Irresistible Pick of the Crop British sweet pioneer strawberries (£4 for 227g, £1.76/100g) scored three stars, offering floral flavour with Brix seven.
Lowest rated
Dyson Farming British strawberries (£4.30 for 250g, £1.72/100g) received two stars. Grown year-round in a Lincolnshire glasshouse using robotics, these Malling Centenary berries were tart with subtle florality and Brix eight. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British strawberries (£2.60 for 250g, £1.04/100g) earned one star, described as disappointing, vegetal, and bland with the lowest Brix score of five. The MC1A variety is grown by Dyson Farming.
The test highlights that provenance and variety information are increasingly available, with some unusual varieties in the mix. While personal preference matters, the Brix scale provides a reliable sweetness indicator.
