I tested sourdough from Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's – one was better and cheaper than Jason's

I tested sourdough from Aldi, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury's – one was better and cheaper than Jason's I've always been a huge fan of Jason's sourdough bread at around £2.15 a loaf, but I wondered if cheaper supermarket own-brand alternatives could match the quality - so I put them all to the taste test Once you've discovered sourdough, you'll never eat another bread again. That distinctive tangy flavour and chewy texture is unbeatable, and it's become an absolute must-have for me. Jason's is probably the brand most people associate with sourdough. I've been a loyal customer for years, especially the ciabattin variety, as it's the ideal size for toasting. A loaf typically costs between £2.15 and £2.50, which seems reasonable enough, but as someone constantly looking to stretch their food shopping budget further, I decided to put four supermarket own-brand sourdough loaves to the test to see how they compare against my beloved Jason's. I visited Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Sainsbury's hunting for sourdough. Prices varied from just £1.50 to £2.44, which was interesting, particularly since the most expensive loaf was one of the smallest. With the toaster warmed up and a generous helping of Kerrygold butter at the ready, I tried a slice of each to see whether any could compete with the renowned brand. Having already had a ciabattin from Jason's in my cupboard, I made sure a slice was included in my taste test. Finding the original loaf in supermarkets is sometimes difficult, which only strengthened my goal to find a worthy alternative. There was an obvious loser, but there was also a clear winner - cheaper than Jason's - and one I'd happily purchase again without hesitation. Jason's Ciabattin - £2.15 This is the loaf I grab most weeks and I'm a big fan - it delivers that classic chewy sourdough consistency with an added depth of flavour courtesy of its distinctive preparation technique. The slices are smaller than you'd expect from a traditional sourdough loaf, but they fit into the toaster perfectly. You also get plenty of slices, and it freezes great. My sole complaint is that it's not ideal for sandwiches - but for toast, it's basically flawless. Score: 8/10 Asda - £2.44 This was the priciest loaf of the lot, which made it even more surprising when I arrived home to find just eight slices in the whole pack. Asda's 'exceptional' range is usually dependable and justifies the premium price - the Greek yoghurt in particular - so my hopes were high. Regrettably, it fell short. The taste was underwhelming, and the consistency was quite dense. Having said that, the slices were good sized and very soft, which secured it an additional point. Score: 7/10 Aldi - £1.75 This loaf simply didn't resemble sourdough to me. It was completely devoid of any chewiness, felt very dry, and the crust wasn't as crisp as you'd expect. I spotted a rye variety on the shelf, so I'll have to go back and try that one. But the white variety left me unimpressed, and I doubt I'd purchase it again. Score: 5/10 Sainsbury's - £1.95 Sainsbury's isn't a shop I visit often, particularly as it's a smaller high-street branch which I presumed would be pricier. Nevertheless, this loaf was surprisingly good value. In terms of taste, it was superb. It had a tangy flavour, was wonderfully soft, and toasted brilliantly. That said, the slices were cut quite thinly and some of the smaller pieces were quite tiny, with fairly notable holes throughout. Even so, it came in as my runner-up, and I'd certainly buy it again. Score: 8/10 Tesco - £1.50 This loaf was the clear winner for me. The crust was spot on, it boasted a gorgeous rich flavour with just the right amount of saltiness, and it tasted even better toasted. The slices were a great size, and while there are only eight in a pack, I'd argue it's well worth it. It loses a point for the number of holes in the bread — something that Jason's didn't have — but I feel the overall flavour of this loaf just edges it. The packaging has changed slightly since the time of writing but it's the Tesco Finest variety you're looking for, and it's currently just £1.50 with a Clubcard or £2 without.