Which? blind taste test names Filippo Berio best supermarket pesto; Ocado wins on value

Which? has named Filippo Berio Classic Pesto the best jar of supermarket pesto after a blind tasting of 10 products, while Ocado’s own-brand Classic Green Pesto was singled out as a Best Buy and the top value pick.

The consumer champion recruited 71 tasters to assess 190g jars from supermarkets and branded makers, comparing own-label and premium options for aroma, basil flavour, salt level, texture and overall appeal. Filippo Berio’s Classic Pesto, priced at £2.80 for 190g, earned the highest overall score, with two-thirds of tasters saying they enjoyed its basil strength, balanced saltiness and “perfect” consistency.

Ocado’s Classic Green Pesto finished a close second and was also named a Best Buy. Priced at £1.10 for 190g, the Ocado jar earned a Great Value tag from Which? and was praised for delivering strong basil flavour and satisfactory texture at a lower price point. Aldi’s Cucina Basil Pesto came third and was noted as a crowd-pleaser, particularly for its 99p price. Testers said the Aldi jar looked and smelled appealing, had a balanced texture and generally appropriate salt levels, though about a third suggested it could use slightly more salt.

Asda’s Green Pesto, also 99p for 190g, received broadly positive marks for looks and consistency but did not stand out on flavour; roughly one in three tasters found it under-salted. Saclà’s Classic Basil Pesto, the most expensive jar in the panel at £3.35, was praised for vibrant colour, balanced salt and a fresh basil note, but a weaker aroma and its higher price point kept it from ranking higher.

Lidl’s Baresa Green Pesto (99p) made the upper half of the list; testers found its appearance paler than rivals but appreciated its thickness and basil strength. Which? placed jars from Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer in the lower half of the rankings. Tesco’s 99p Green Pesto scored highest among that group for looks and aroma but was criticised by some tasters for an overly strong basil flavour. Morrisons’ 99p Green Pesto was judged to have appealing looks and texture but an overpowering basil taste and insufficient salt for many tasters. Sainsbury’s 99p Green Pesto was described as rather bland with only an “OK” consistency, while M&S’s Green Pesto, priced at £1.40 for 190g, finished last after more than half of tasters reported it lacked salt and had a weak basil flavour.

Which? said the blind-tasting approach aimed to remove brand bias and assess jars solely on sensory qualities and value. The organisation noted that own-label products often compete strongly with established brands on both taste and price, with Ocado and Aldi providing particular examples of strong value propositions.

The results underscore a wide spread in both price and perceived quality across mass-market pestos. Prices in the test ranged from 99p to £3.35 for 190g jars, and tasters evaluated factors such as appearance, aroma, basil intensity, saltiness and sauce consistency. Several mid- and lower-ranked products were marked down primarily for insufficient seasoning or imbalanced basil intensity rather than poor texture.

Supermarket own brands have increasingly sought to challenge premium labels by matching core flavour profiles at lower prices. The Which? findings suggest that shoppers prioritising flavour and balance may prefer the mid-priced Filippo Berio jar, while those prioritising cost can find acceptable or even highly rated alternatives among supermarket ranges. Retailers and brands frequently review formulations and pricing during the year, and such taste tests offer a snapshot of current offerings rather than a permanent ranking.