From sarnies and simple toasties to lasagnes and mac 'n' cheese, cheddar is a grocery essential that's a key component in countless meals. However, not all cheese brands hit the mark. Consumer champion Which? routinely puts supermarket basics to the test, and in one of their recent blind tastings of cheddars, expert panellists crowned one supermarket cheddar as the top dog, scoring it a whopping 77%.

After assessing the flavour, scent, appearance and texture, Which? bestowed its coveted "best buy" accolade on Waitrose's Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar.

I have tried a variety of mature cheddar cheeses from supermarkets before; while Waitrose didn't take the lead, Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar was absent from the selection.

After perusing the rave reviews from the taste testers, I was keen to nip to Waitrose to give it a whirl and see how it stacks up against Cathedral City's mature cheddar.

Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar

Priced at £3.18 for a 350g block, most tasters reckoned the Waitrose mature cheddar had "just the right smoothness and creaminess" and "perfect saltiness".

Two-thirds of the tasters agreed "the strength of flavour was just right", and an equal number were pleased with this cheddar's crumbliness.

Whilst it's not the cheapest supermarket own-brand cheddar cheese, it still undercuts the price tags of market leaders Cathedral City and Pilgrims Choice.

Waitrose's Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar Cheese is currently on sale for £3.18 for a 350g block.

City and Pilgrims Choice

Cathedral City Mature Cheddar Cheese is priced at £4.25 for a 350g block, whilst Pilgrims Choice Mature Cheddar is currently selling for £3.30 for a 350g portion at Waitrose.

I'm absolutely mad about cheese, and can't resist piling it onto my jacket potatoes or using it for cheese toasties. I've discovered that opting for mature cheese delivers the best results as it provides superior flavour.

Upon unwrapping both packets of cheese, the initial striking difference was the aroma. The fragrance of the Waitrose cheese proved considerably more potent than that of Cathedral City.

When it came to slicing both blocks of cheese, the Cathedral City one cut through fairly effortlessly, whilst the Waitrose alternative was significantly more crumbly - precisely what you'd expect from a mature cheddar cheese.

City Mature Cheddar Cheese

Sampling each one, I discovered the Cathedral City cheese leaned towards the milder end, despite being marketed as "mature". That said, it possessed a velvety texture and delivered a decent amount of saltiness.

I found the Waitrose Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar Cheese considerably richer, silkier and creamier, with a flavour that lingered on the palate for some time.

Having sampled them both plain, I chose to prepare toasties with them. Both melted exceptionally well and appeared similar in colour; nevertheless, the robust flavour of the Waitrose cheese made it the obvious champion.

Considering the Waitrose Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar Cheese is both tastier and more affordable than Cathedral City, I'll certainly be switching over.

just the right smoothness and creaminess

Why this lands now

Desserts carry an outsized share of a menu's personality, even when they account for a small share of its revenue.

The short version

  • From sarnies and simple toasties to lasagnes and mac 'n' cheese, cheddar is a grocery essential that's a key component in countless meals
  • I have tried a variety of mature cheddar cheeses from supermarkets before; while Waitrose didn't take the lead, Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar was absent from the selection
  • After perusing the rave reviews from the taste testers, I was keen to nip to Waitrose to give it a whirl and see how it stacks up against Cathedral City's mature cheddar
  • Priced at £3.18 for a 350g block, most tasters reckoned the Waitrose mature cheddar had "just the right smoothness and creaminess" and "perfect saltiness"
  • Two-thirds of the tasters agreed "the strength of flavour was just right", and an equal number were pleased with this cheddar's crumbliness

Questions worth asking

What should you know about Waitrose?

After assessing the flavour, scent, appearance and texture, Which? bestowed its coveted "best buy" accolade on Waitrose's Davidstow Cornish Mature Cheddar.

Why does it matter?

Upon unwrapping both packets of cheese, the initial striking difference was the aroma.

All told

The details will firm up over the coming months. What is already clear is that this is unlikely to be the last we hear of it.