Brown sauce enhances a variety of dishes, from bacon and sausage sandwiches to full English breakfasts. Home cooks often add it to shepherd’s pie or beef stew for extra depth. HP sauce, a century-old favorite from Nottingham, delivers bold flavor that sets the benchmark.
Supermarket own-brand options cost less than HP’s typical £3.90 for 600g. A blind taste test compared products from Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Asda, and Daddies to see if any match or surpass the classic.
Taste Test Breakdown
Sainsbury’s Brown Sauce: 1/10
This option looks diluted next to HP and misses the desired intensity. The overall taste falls short.
M&S Brown Sauce: 2/10
Expectations ran high, but the flavor veers too sweet, reminiscent of mango chutney. It packs more punch than Sainsbury’s yet overwhelms with sugar.
Daddies Brown Sauce: 6/10
The branded sauce brings the expected spice and punch. It outperforms Sainsbury’s and M&S, though a generous squeeze unlocks its full profile.
Lidl Brown Sauce: 7/10
A strong aroma hits immediately upon opening. It offers spice and tang, ideal for milder preferences, but craves slightly bolder notes.
Asda Brown Sauce: 9/10
The priciest entry appears pale at first pour, raising doubts. Yet it closely mirrors HP with balanced spices and tanginess, nearly claiming top spot.
The Winner: Aldi’s Brown Sauce
Aldi’s entry, the cheapest at 99p, triumphs with 10/10. Its consistency rivals HP, blending richness and tang perfectly. This budget pick even edges out the original for everyday use, delivering savings without compromise.
