I tasted brown sauces from M&S, Sainsbury's, Aldi and more - 99p bottle beat HP
Brown sauce serves to enhance numerous dishes, particularly bacon and sausage sandwiches. I'm rather fond of generously applying HP sauce whenever I treat myself to a full English breakfast.
It's a kitchen essential for me, and I use it in recipes like Shepherd's pie or beef stew. When it comes to brown sauce, I require one with substantial flavour. HP has been available for more than a century, and originated in my home city of Nottingham.
As a self-proclaimed brown sauce enthusiast, I set out to discover whether any rival brand could match HP and found myself taken aback by the results.
Numerous supermarkets stock their own brown sauces, which cost less than the branded HP variety, usually retailing at approximately £3.90 for 600g. I sampled brown sauces from Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Asda, and the Daddies brand to determine which performed best.
Sainsbury's - £1.10 for 450gThe moment I sampled the Sainsbury's product, I recognised it would rank lowest for me. The sauce appeared diluted when compared to the HP alternative and lacked the intensity I desired. The taste simply felt entirely wrong.
Rating: 1/10
I held considerable expectations for the M&S sauce, but found myself questioning whether I'd accidentally selected a bottle of mango chutney. The flavour profile seemed completely incorrect and was excessively sweet. Whilst it delivered more punch than Sainsbury's, I couldn't overlook the sweetness.
Rating: 2/10
Daddies - £1.14 for 400g from AsdaThe branded brown sauce delivered the punch I was seeking and offered a spiciness I anticipated from a brown sauce. It was considerably superior to Sainsbury's and M&S, though I discovered I needed to apply a generous amount to achieve the complete flavour profile.
Rating: 6/10
Lidl - £1.15 for 530gLidl's brown sauce released a potent aroma the moment it emerged from the bottle. It possesses the spiciness and tang anticipated from a brown sauce.
I simply wished the flavour was marginally bolder, though if you're seeking a gentler brown sauce, this would be ideal.
Rating: 7/10
The priciest bottle in the taste test originated from Asda, and when I initially dispensed the sauce, I harboured some reservations as it appeared considerably paler than the alternatives.
Nevertheless, upon sampling the sauce, it proved a remarkably close match to HP. All the proper spices and tanginess were present. For me, it was a tight decision to award the premier position, but Asda fell just short.
Rating: 9/10
The triumphant brown sauce belonged to the most affordable option in the taste test. It bore the closest resemblance to HP, and even challenges the brand regarding delivering all the flavours.
Aldi's sauce boasts an excellent consistency and contains everything I adore about a brown sauce - richness and tanginess. I would even select it over HP next time I need a brown sauce, and will be saving a penny or two in the process.
Rating: 10/10
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