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Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I tested coleslaw & potato salads… 98p winner's perfect for BBQs with chunky spuds, creamy mayo & crunchy extra element
Scroll down to find out which supermarket tubs really deliver on taste, texture and value TASTIEST BITS ON THE SIDE I tested coleslaw & potato salads… 98p winner's perfect for BBQs with chunky spuds, creamy mayo & crunchy extra element WITH Britain basking under sunny skies, eating al fresco is one way to make the most of the warm weather. So it's not surprising that sales of barbecue-friendly ingredients are soaring. Advertisement 13 Laura Stott samples supermarket coleslaws and potato salads as Brits snap them up for BBQ season Credit: Damien McFadden Retailers have reported an increase in demand for popular cold sides, coleslaw and potato salad, which are perfect for scoffing outdoors alongside your griddled goodies. Laura Stott tried and rated a selection of supermarket versions. POTS OF COLESLAW Marks & Spencer 13 Flavourwise, this is as close as you'll get to tasting homemade Credit: Damien McFadden TRADITIONAL COLESLAW, 300G, £1.30: THE usual cabbage, carrots and onions in a fresh and tasty mayo coating, plus a nice mustard tang, this will pair perfectly with your grilled meats. The veggies are shredded quite finely and there is a lot of the dressing, so M&S's coleslaw is not quite as crunchy as some of the others. Advertisement But flavourwise, it's as close as you'll get to tasting homemade. 4/5 Asda 13 Big cabbage chunks and bland flavour make this coleslaw a disappointing buy Credit: Damien McFadden COLESLAW, 300g, £1.32: A GOOD value tub of coleslaw from Asda, but tastewise, sadly, this missed the mark. Advertisement Despite containing double cream and milk as well as egg mayonnaise, the flavour was bland and also rather sweet. It lacked any vinegar sharpness and the veggies seemed to consist of mostly very thick slices of cabbage and big chunks of onion with not much carrot, which wasn't very appetising to look at. 1/5 Morrisons 13 Tangy and rustic, this coleslaw's sharp kick pairs perfectly with hearty BBQ sides such as corn on the cob or a baked potato Credit: Damien McFadden Advertisement CRUNCHY COLESLAW, 300g, £1.25: THIS pot of shredded onion, cabbage and onion definitely has a rustic and homemade feel and look to it, and I think if you put it in a serving bowl you could pass it off as one you made yourself – if you wanted to. The 2C method which stops flies plaguing your home and ruining your BBQ Quite a sharp vinegar tang to Morrisons' coleslaw, so it's a little more acidic than some of the others. Be nice piled up next to a corn on the cob or atop a jacket spud. 3/5 Advertisement Tesco 13 Tesco's offering was like a liquid cold coleslaw soup with thin pieces of cabbage and carrot swimming in a sea of mayonnaise Credit: Damien McFadden COLESLAW, 300g, £1.25: I WASN'T that keen on the appearance of this slaw with its veggie ingredients sliced so finely they looked like they had been shredded. The result of this was like a liquid cold coleslaw soup with thin pieces of cabbage and carrot swimming in a sea of mayonnaise. Rather unpleasant and the mayo coating having a pinky-yellow hue didn't help appearances either. Advertisement 2/5 Aldi 13 Creamy, tangy and mustardy, this finely sliced coleslaw packs flavour without being too overpowering Credit: Damien McFadden SPECIALLY SELECTED CREAMY COLESLAW, 300g £1.29: A GOOD price for a ready-made coleslaw from Aldi's posher range of picky bits. This side is made with free-range egg mayo and has a nice tang of vinegar and a strong punch of mustard without the flavours becoming too overpowering. Advertisement Another pot where the veggies are sliced very finely and here in a uniform way so it looks shop bought. 5/5 Co-op 13 Nice balance of vinegar, mustard and mayo, and another tub that could pass for homemade - just a pity it's not cheaper Credit: Damien McFadden CLASSIC COLESLAW, 300g, £1.65: THIS is the priciest of the bunch, so it doesn't offer you the best barbecue bargain but the taste and quality is good. Advertisement A fairly basic recipe with the usual mix of ingredients and quite a chunky texture so it's ideal with more rugged mains like meat cuts. Nice balance of vinegar, mustard and mayo, and another tub that could pass for homemade. Pity it's not cheaper, though. 3/5 POTATO SALADS Marks & Spencer 13 A lovely luxury side, but not cheap Credit: Damien McFadden Advertisement CHARLOTTE NEW POTATO SALAD, 300g, £2.50: THE white-fleshed Charlotte potatoes are creamy and waxy and really do have a delicious flavour. I enjoyed that the tasty skins had been left on to scoff, too. Quite a light dressing with sour cream, mayo, mustard and spring onions but nicely balanced so the spuds don't get drowned out when you eat it. A lovely luxury side, but not cheap. Advertisement 4/5 Asda 13 Creamy, well-balanced and packed with spring onions — a tasty bargain potato salad Credit: Damien McFadden POTATO SALAD, 300g, 98p: THIS cold potato salad looked tasty in the tub and didn't fall down on flavour when I tried it either. Really nice spuds, not too chunky or too mushy and a good creamy consistency to the mayo sauce. Advertisement There's lots of spring onions to add interest and while the coating is on the gloopy side, it suits the homemade feel of this recipe. Amazing value for money too. 5/5 Morrisons 13 All the ingredients are present and correct but it's rather bland to eat and left a nasty aftertaste in my mouth Credit: Damien McFadden POTATO SALAD, 300g, £1.25: THIS cold potato and mayo combo also contains pieces of spring onion, which is a really nice idea instead of chives for a lovely sweet tang with all the creamy sauce. Advertisement However, overall, I found this spud mix a little bit disappointing. All the ingredients are present and correct but it's rather bland to eat and left a nasty aftertaste in my mouth. There are better alternatives for this price. 2/5 Advertisement Tesco 13 The only downside I can find is that you can't reseal the container Credit: Damien McFadden POTATO SALAD, 300g, £1.25 (£1 Clubcard price): YOU certainly get plenty of potato for your pound, the coating is creamy and tangy, and it all tastes good. Adding chives is a nice touch and exactly what I would do if I were making my own from scratch – and I also liked the citrus tang from the lemon. The only downside I can find is that you can't reseal the container. Advertisement 4/5 Aldi 13 It's definitely a nice and filling salad for any barbecue buffet – and the cheapest! Credit: Damien McFadden DELI POTATO SALAD, 300g, 89p: MADE with sour cream and lemon juice you get plenty of tatties in a thick and very rich sauce, which is tempered nicely with enough acidity. The cold potatoes are chopped in a mixture of sizes but one or two of mine felt rather firm. Advertisement It's definitely a nice and filling salad for any barbecue buffet – and the cheapest! 4/5 Lidl 13 There are very large chunks of potatoes in this so it's almost like having a proper side of spuds Credit: Damien McFadden MEADOW FRESH POTATO SALAD WITH YOGHURT, 1kg, £2.95: A WHOPPER of a container from Lidl, which is perfect for a larger gathering and offers brilliant value for money. Advertisement It's also made with a yoghurt coating, which is a little bit different. There are very large chunks of potatoes in this so it's almost like having a proper side of spuds. Contains chives and a hint of chilli. 3/5
Scottish Sun
14-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
I tried all the supermarket cloudy lemonades – refreshing 90p winner is perfect drink for a summery day
Read on to find out which ones are best to use as mixers at your next barbecue? PITCHER PERFECT I tried all the supermarket cloudy lemonades – refreshing 90p winner is perfect drink for a summery day Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN it comes to refreshing summer sips, nothing quite hits the spot like traditional cloudy lemonade. But shoppers at Tesco have had to find a substitute after the store removed it from its soft drinks range. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Laura Stott has tested all the supermarket cloudy lemonades and rated them out of five Credit: Damien McFadden Lovers of the fizz have been pleading online for it to be reinstated. Meanwhile, which other own-brand bottles of pop can they turn to? Laura Stott samples a selection and gives her verdict. Diet Lemonade with Lemon Juice, 330ml, 55p, Tesco 8 Tesco's Diet Lemonade with Lemon Juice is an unsatisfying substitute Credit: Damien McFadden WITH Tesco's traditional-style cloudy lemonade being withdrawn, what I found left on the shelves instead was this lemonade made with 2 per cent lemon juice. So it's easy to see why shoppers who usually buy the 'old-fashioned' style drink are not happy. While there is nothing wrong with this version, the flavour is just not the same. It is described as sherbet- tasting, but it's more like a plain lemonade and the disappointing fruit flavour is very wishy-washy. How to make the perfect alcoholic pink lemonade with just TWO ingredients - and it's ideal to cool you down There also is no yellowy colour, which that is part of the enjoyment of the traditional drink. It's artificial tasting and lacking in zing. Hardly comparable to a delicious chilled glass of the original cloudy fizz. An unsatisfying substitute. Rating: 2/5 Cloudy Lemonade, 750ml £3.50, M&S THIS yummy real lemonade in its fancy glass bottle is rammed with the taste of juicy Italian fruits – and is the posh bottle to buy if you want to treat yourself or you are having people over. Made with 4 per cent Sicilian lemon juice and an additional 4 per cent puree on top, this double whammy really elevates the juiciness. 8 The M&S version would be a good mixer for summer cocktails Credit: Damien McFadden Combined with carbonated water, it's incredibly moreish and hits the perfect spot between sweet and sharp. There is no escaping the fact this is a costlier option, and 750ml won't go that far. I'd suggest this is one best kept for the grown-ups to enjoy as a nice alcohol-free offering, or to have at a summer barbecue or garden party. It is expensive but if you are buying as a booze-free alternative, it isn't bad value. Would be a good mixer for summer cocktails. Rating: 3/5 Vive Lemon Zero Sugar, 85p, 2 litres, Aldi ALDI'S lemon sparkling drink is a good price, but the two-litre bottle was no better value than most of the other own-brand options. It also contains a slightly lower amount of lemon juice from concentrate than many of the other supermarket offerings. 8 Aldi's version is closer to one of the big-brand fizzy lemon drinks, rather than a 'cloudy' lemonade Credit: Damien McFadden They predominantly contain 4 per cent fruit juice, whereas this one is lower at just 3 per cent . That said, the flavour is a little different, perhaps closer to one of the big-brand fizzy lemon drinks, rather than a traditional summertime 'cloudy' lemonade recipe. I found it sweeter, too, which was not to my taste. But that can be a matter of personal preference. It reminded me of a lemon drink you might buy on holiday to slurp as a change from a cola by the swimming pool. Rating: 2/5 Cloudy Lemonade, 6 x 330ml cans, Sainsbury's, £2.05 BUYING fizzy drinks as individual cans is a great way to make sure pop does not end up being wasted and poured down the sink when it goes flat. And while this multi-pack is a little pricier at the till, the price per can is not too painful. 8 The bright and bold citrus flavour certainly refreshes your palate and perks you up Credit: Damien McFadden A super way to quench your thirst on a hot day. There's plenty of the lemon flavour that you want in these sunny sippers, which can be enjoyed nice and chilled. The bright and bold citrus flavour certainly refreshes your palate and perks you up. The downside of drinking it this way is you don't get to enjoy the 'cloudy' colour, unless you pour it into a glass. On the plus side, it's perfect for picnics or for drinking on the go. A very good glug. 4/5 Diet Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 90p, Co-op A VERY stylish big bottle of pop from the Co-op, with a fun label that adults won't be embarrassed to have in the fridge. It has a gorgeous vibrant yellow colour too! A bit more citrus flavour than some of the other supermarket options, thanks to a combination of lemon juices that provide this one with a lovely balance point between tart and sweet. 8 Co-Op's version is packed with traditional and comforting fruity flavour Credit: Damien McFadden A little less gassy than some other options. It seems a bit softer and gentler to sip, which I rather enjoyed. But if you prefer the bubbles-up-your-nose sensation of a fizzy drink, you might want one with a bit more 'pop'. It also means it is likely to go flat faster. Very refreshing and tasty though, and packed with traditional and comforting fruity flavour. Delicious, and a perfect drink on a summery day. Rating: 5/5 Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 80p, Morrisons THIS no-added-sugar fizz from Morrisons has a delicious cloudy hue that had the strongest citrus colour of all the bottles of pop I slurped. Made with 4 per cent concentrated lemon, it gives you all the soft tang of the fruit but it has been made more palatable with the addition of some sweetness. 8 Morrisons' version had the strongest citrus colour of all the drinks tested Credit: Damien McFadden Very bubbly and fizzy, so a chilled glass of this on a warm day really hits the spot for refreshing you and quenching your thirst. I did find it had a slightly artificial aftertaste, but that's not uncommon with any carbonated drinks that have sucralose added to them. A lovely warm-weather sip that will be a great fridge standby at this time of year. Very good value, too. Rating: 4/5 Diet Cloudy Lemonade, 2 litres, 82p, Asda LOADS of lemon bubbles for your bucks in Asda's own citrus fizz, which is tangy and tasty. While not as sharp or tingly on the tongue as some others, it is still packed with the flavours of the fruit. 8 This would make a super mixer with spirits such as vodka or gin Credit: Damien McFadden A very pale yellow-green cloudy colour which, when chilled, looks delicious. You'll be pleased to pour out a glass of this to quench your thirst on a hot day, and it's even better over ice. It is made with 4 per cent concentrated juice and is another supermarket slurper to come as a diet option. If you fancy a change from a plain lemonade, the fruit flavour really does elevate this to a more enjoyable drink. It would make a super mixer with spirits such as vodka or gin. Rating: 4/5 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I tested strawberries & cream ice cream… delicious £2.50 winner had juicy fruit & ingredient that gives it extra boost
The cost of Wimbledon's famous treat has risen by 20p this year STRAWBERRIES & DREAM I tested strawberries & cream ice cream… delicious £2.50 winner had juicy fruit & ingredient that gives it extra boost Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S game, set and match for Strawberries and Cream as Wimbledon gets under way once again in SW19. However the cost of Wimbo's famous treat has risen by 20p this year – the first price increase since 2010. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Laura Stott tucks in to tell us which frozen treats aced it and gives them all a score out of five Credit: Damien McFadden Tucking into the classic dessert will now set you back £2.70 a portion, with the venue set to sell 140,000 punnets throughout the two-week tournament. But if you can't attend courtside, tuck into the flavour at home with a tub of Strawberries and Cream ice cream, which should hit the spot while tuning in to watch the action on the telly. And luckily there are plenty of affordable options in the supermarket freezer aisles. Here LAURA STOTT tucks in to tell us which frozen treats aced it and gives them all a score out of five. Gelatelli Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £1.99, Lidl 8 Lidl's offering is packed full of strawberry taste Credit: Damien McFadden YOU get loads of fruity flavour on your spoon with this frozen treat from Lidl, which is packed with the taste of the summer fruit. With 18.5 per cent strawberry puree, along with a lovely pink ice cream, it fills your mouth with summery berry flavours and there's loads of yummy sauce in each spoonful. I enjoyed the white choccie flakes, which provide some creamy hits on your tastebuds, but the actual ice cream itself was not particularly rich. On the plus side, however, it was smooth and enjoyable with a light texture that was softer than some others, so if you prefer your puds on the airier side it will slip down a treat. Wimbledon's Berry Delight Very tasty and well priced, a bowl that should keep everybody happy as a summer snack or as a pud. Rating: 4/5 Strawberry and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £2.50, Morrisons 8 Morrison's ice cream has a rich, smooth and velvety quality Credit: Damien McFadden WELL priced for what you get, this is a 'proper' substantial and dense ice cream from the freezer aisle that tastes as though it came straight from the dairy. Probably the creamiest scoop of the lot, this is a quality freeze with a rich, smooth and velvet quality, which most closely resembles the real thing. Made with five per cent strawberry puree, it hits the sweet spot, giving you the taste of the fruit, although the amount is lower and not as generous as some others. Yet the inclusion of double cream gives this tub a decadent depth you won't find in all puds. While choccie curls on top add interest, this offering is really all about the excellent ice cream itself. Very nice indeed – and its firmer hold means it would also be great with a drink or two. The only downside was a slightly odd aftertaste. Rating: 4/5 Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £2.65, Sainsbury's 8 Sainsbury's offering contains meringue pieces for some welcome crunch Credit: Damien McFadden THIS baby pink-hued frozen pudding was slightly different in appearance to many of the others I tried. It had more of a soft pink-coloured selection of swirls and topping. As well as its strawberry swirls and fruity sauce, this dessert also offers meringue pieces for some welcome crunch, which I really enjoyed. Despite its mellow appearance this tub actually packed some proper flavour, with a lovely rich taste that really was reminiscent of pouring proper cream on top of a punnet of strawbs. I'll admit that I wasn't expecting a top taste, mostly based on the slightly insipid rose and marshmallow colour palette, but this dessert proved me wrong. I'd happily spoon into this while watching all the tennis action on telly, and it's a great price for what it delivers, too. Rating: 5/5 Gianni's Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream Swirl, 900ml £1.95, Aldi 8 Aldi's should be eaten from a bowl or straight from the tub as it's too soft for cones Credit: Damien McFadden THIS certainly looks the part and it's a very attractive product. With bright pink strawberry syrup swirled all over and a mountainous, peaked, whippy-style top, it looks rather like a giant cone that you would get from an ice-cream van. There are also large white choccie curls on top and the extras make this look like a real treat – it will make you want to tuck in. This has quite a soft texture for a frozen pudding and I did find that it melted rather quickly, but the flavour was pleasant. It's sweet, which isn't really surprising considering all the fruity sauce on top, but it's still enjoyable. Eat from a bowl or straight from the tub as it's too soft for cones. Great for all the family and very well priced, too. Rating: 3/5 Strawberry and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £2.65, Tesco 8 Tesco's is a bit pricey for what you get Credit: Damien McFadden THIS looked very similar to Aldi's tub and it is the same size but it was almost a pound more expensive which was rather surprising for an own-brand ice cream. Made with 12 per cent strawberry sauce and two per cent white choccie curls, there's no shortage of syrupy toppings in this tub, so you get a nice mix of textures when you serve it up, and the fruity flavour is decent too. The cream taste is not quite as noticeable, in part because the strawberry is rather dominant, but if you get a good mix on your spoon it still tastes fairly balanced and slips down nicely enough. I'm not sure how reminiscent it is of a bowl of the real thing, and it was a bit artificial tasting, but it's an agreeable enough frozen pud, even if it is a bit pricey for what you get. Rating: 3/5 Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £2.50, Iceland 8 Iceland's ice cream is hard to stop eating it once you dig your spoon in Credit: Damien McFadden IT might not be the cheapest tub on the block but Iceland's berries and cream-flavoured chilly pud really delivers the wow factor. Absolutely swimming in strawberry sauce, you get 14 per cent of the red syrup here – one of the highest concentrations among the tubs I tried. It's noticeable how much more 'berry juice' there is, meaning everyone will get plenty when you are scooping it out into bowls. Not only is it really tasty and glossy-looking, the sauce doesn't go gloopy. An additional four per cent strawberry puree amplifies the taste further and if that wasn't enough there are tons of crunchy meringue pieces, too. Really delicious, I'll forgive it being on the softer side. It's hard to stop eating it once you dig your spoon in. Rating: 5/5 Strawberry Sorbet and Cream Ice Cream, 900ml £1.98 Asda 8 Asda's tub almost looks too lovely to spoil by sticking your spoon into it Credit: Damien McFadden PRETTY in pink, this tub of ice cream almost looks too lovely to spoil by sticking your spoon into it. The strawberry sorbet flavour accounts for the extra sweetness but it's nicely countered by 12 per cent of strawberry puree, which is generous enough for this dessert to deliver on the taste it promises. This had quite a light and thin texture which wasn't akin to a traditional ice cream, but was more like a soft whippy cone. Overall that made this a bit unsatisfactory, as it did melt quickly and the flavours seemed to lack substance. For strawberry and cream flavours, you would be better off with a portion of the real thing, but this should keep the kids happy as a summery pud. One to keep in the freezer for hot weather treats in the garden. Rating: 2/5 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
10-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Shoppers rush to Aldi to pick up fizzy drink dupe that's £2 cheaper than Coca-Cola favourite & ‘it tastes better'
PLUS other food dupes you can get at Aldi CAN'T COKE WITH THIS Shoppers rush to Aldi to pick up fizzy drink dupe that's £2 cheaper than Coca-Cola favourite & 'it tastes better' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DIET Coke lovers are sharing their love for a comparable option in Aldi. Diet Coke is one of the UK's leading soft drink brands with ardent fans across the country, but now people are flocking to Aldi's cheaper dupe. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Aldi's Diet Coke dupe is a hit with shoppers Credit: Aldi 3 The Vive Diet Cola is said to taste just as good as the original Credit: Damien McFadden Part of Aldi's Vive range of soft drinks, the Diet Cola has been described as "spicier" in taste than the original brand. What's even better is that Aldi's Diet Cola is much cheaper, with a six-pack costing £1.60 or just 9p per can. That more than half the price less than an eight-pack at Sainsbury's which costs £5.20 or 18p per can. The cost of a 2-litre bottle of Aldi's Diet Cola is just 49p, at Sainsbury's the equivalent Diet Coke bottle will set you back £2.55. Fans of the Diet Coke dupe took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the product. "[It's] is a steal and tastes the same or better than the real Diet Coke. I love it," wrote one person. Another added: "I like the Aldi diet cola, better than diet coke." And a third commented: "I LOVE IT! Seriously it taste the best to me in comparison to all the other off brand diet sodas. Just has a bit more spice to it. I'm a big fan. It has caffeine but the amount isn't listed." The Diet Cola is not the only bargain dupe available at Aldi, with shoppers raving about their other products. Savvy shoppers have shared that Aldi has a great dupe of a Cadbury favourite. I found a 40-year-old unopened can of coke up a mountain while hiking - so I decided to crack it open and TASTE it Aldi's new Honeycomb Clusters are a dupe of Cadbury's popular Crunchie Clusters. Chocolate fans will need to visit their nearest Aldi to grab the new snacks, as the dupe isn't available online. It comes after Home Bargains revealed their dupe of an elegant Polish chocolate bar, which is 92 per cent cheaper than the original. When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible Remember to compare prices It is important to always shop around as you might find a cheaper alternative. Websites like Trolley and Price Spy let you compare thousands of products across different retailers to find the best price. Price Spy even lets you see how much an item has cost over time, so you can see if the current price is a good deal. A quick scan on the Google Shopping/Product tab will also bring up how much retailers are selling a certain item for too.
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I tried supermarket versions of Magnums… 38p per treat winner was packed with first-class flavour & chunky chocolate
LICKALIKES I tried supermarket versions of Magnums… 38p per treat winner was packed with first-class flavour & chunky chocolate Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGNUM lollies have long been a favourite summer treat but they're even more popular since Brat pop star Charli XCX was spotted with one at Cannes this month. However, stocking up on them can be expensive as they cost around £3.50 for a pack of three. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Charli XCX was spotted with a Magnum ice cream at the recent Cannes film festival Credit: Splash Last week Aldi launched new flavours of its own dupes for around £2.49 a pack. But how do they compare on taste? Laura Stott put stores' own versions to the test and rated them out of five. Classic Magnum, 3 x 100ml, £3.50, Tesco 9 I found the original Magnums to be surprisingly lacking in flavour Credit: Damien McFadden ORIGINAL Magnums – which are made by big-name brand Wall's – are famous for their thick and delicious choccie coating and they don't disappoint on this front. When you unwrap and tuck in, the shell shatters and snaps in the most satisfying way but the shards of choc I found surprisingly lacking in flavour, with none of the creaminess you'd expect considering the generous amount you get. The vanilla ice cream was tasty, nice and thick and it didn't melt too quickly so I had both ice cream and coating on my stick all the way to the bottom of this eat. There is nothing wrong with what you'll find in this box and they are a best-seller for a reason, but that comes at a price. 3/5 Amour Choc Mint, 3 x 110ml, Morrisons, £2.25 9 Morrisons minty ice creams are fresh but have some room for improvement Credit: Damien McFadden LIKE the classic after-dinner nibble but in ice cream form, if you love fresh flavours these will be a good buy. Inside you find three minty ice creams with a thick texture, so it doesn't drip if you want to savour it and eat slowly. 'survey reveals what your ice cream eating habits could say about your personality' Nice chocolate around the outside but despite having decent ingredients this perfectly pleasant lolly just lacked a little something to make it really spark. The ice cream perhaps needs a bit more mint coming through and the chocolate on the outside was noticeably thinner than on some of the others. The price is excellent, however, and you get a big lolly. If you like mint they are certainly worth a go. 3/5 Gianni's Pink Lemonade, 3 x 90ml, Aldi, £2.49 9 The combination of lemon ice cream and raspberry sorbet will go down a treat Credit: Damien McFadden ALDI'S new Gianni's Luxury Pink Lemonade Chocsticks cost £2.49 for three lollies, which shouldn't cause as much of a meltdown at the till as buying a packet of genuine Magnums. These certainly look rather flashy, with a fun appearance which is bound to go down well with the kids if you stick a pack in the freezer when doing the family shop. The combo inside of lemon ice cream and raspberry sorbet with an exterior coated in thick white chocolate and pieces of popping candy is good fun and has some serious 'by the beach and on holiday' vibes. This was a very sugary-tasting lolly and the citrus flavour of the ice cream middle gets a bit lost with all the competing tastes. But as a warm weather treat it's a bit different and very jolly. Rather like an ice cream sundae on a stick. 4/5 Almond Sticks, 3 x 75g, M&S/Ocado, £2.40 9 I thought the Marks & Spencers ice cream was very bland and thin Credit: Damien McFadden VERY good value from M&S but these own-brand ice cream options were a little disappointing when it came to flavour, despite looking and smelling delicious. More of a short and chunky choc ice on a stick but they did seem rather fun-sized compared to some of the other own-brand whoppers and it was hard not to feel a little short-changed when they came out of the box. The taste is inoffensive but I thought the ice cream was very bland and thin, with none of the creamy vanilla richness I was hoping for. A bit of a choc ice of two halves however, as the choccie coating was delicious, with a great flavour and rammed with nutty nibs. A better ice cream filling would be a real game-changer here. 3/5 Chocolate and Caramel, 3 x 110ml, £1.19, Tesco 9 This pack from Tesco was great value for money and a delicious taste Credit: Damien McFadden A WARM weather bargain from Tesco. This box of three lollies was a winner at the till, coming in at an incredible 38p per ice which is a summer steal, and almost a third of the price of buying the big brand. Flavour-wise I thought they were first class and in the box you get three massive licks which should satisfy the whole family. Each has tasty caramel flavour ice cream in the middle, which is coated with a chunky layer of milk choc, enhanced with Crunchie-style honeycomb pieces. The choccie outer was the best part of this bite, thick enough to ensure you get that lovely snap if you like to nibble off shards to eat first, like I do. There wasn't a huge amount of the honeycomb pieces which some might find disappointing but, for me, any more would have been too sickly, so I was very happy. Great value for money, and a tasty treat. Winner - 5/5 Double Dip Choc Raspberry, 3 x 88ml, £3.25, Sainsbury's 9 The Double Dip Choc Raspberry from Sainsbury's are a real grown-up treat and delicious Credit: Damien McFadden THESE are very fancy choc and fruit-flavoured ice creams which will bring a touch of luxury to your freezer and work just as well as a dessert or garden eat. Inside you get yummy raspberry ice cream which has a thick, creamy flavour and tastes just as delicious and decadent as any posh tub you might buy. There's a double-thickness milk chocolate layer on the outside which delivers the satisfying shatter you want, and to cut through all that richness there's a sparky and zingy raspberry sauce sandwiched in the middle. These are a real grown-up treat and delicious, but the cost is rather high. And considering the price tag, the lollies themselves are a bit too dinky. 3/5 Chocolate Almond Coated, 3 x 110ml, Asda, £2.10 9 Asda's chocolate treat was high quality and felt like good value for money Credit: Damien McFadden A WELL-PRICED own-brand choc treat that works well as a keep-everyone-happy summertime snack. More classic in taste than some others, so what you find on your stick is a scrummy vanilla ice cream dipped in a coating of milk choc with tasty roasted almond nibs. For the price I thought these were super quality and you also get a lot for your money as they are very substantial. The vanilla whippy-style middle tasted enjoyable, with an ice cream van- style soft texture, and roasting the nutty nibs gave enjoyable additional taste as well as texture. The choc was a little thin and the lolly did start to separate and melt too fast, but that didn't stop me scoffing the lot and then licking my fingers! 4/5 Gelatelli Double Caramel, 4 x 85ml, Lidl, £4.49 9 Lidl's ice cream was messy to eat and it felt like there was too much going on Credit: Damien McFadden I WAS surprised at the steep price of these own-brand licks from Lidl, which were the second-costliest I tried after the Wall's original Magnums. That said, they are pretty fancy lollies with a lot of flavours packed on to the wooden stick. Inside the chunky milk choc outer you'll find it crammed with nutty nibs, then a thick layer of caramel sauce, ice cream with biscuit, more nut flavours and then more white chocolate, plus biccie pieces. There's an awful lot going on here, which is generous – and if you love a toffee-style ice cream cone you'll probably think these are fab. I found them a bit messy to eat, and the stick was almost too small for all the goodies attached to it. But if you have a sweet tooth you'll be in heaven. They're overpriced though, and paying less for a more streamlined ice will keep everyone just as happy.
