I tried sourdough from Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco - 1 was tastier than Jason's

Sourdough bread has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and it's easy to understand why. Usually made with fewer ingredients and additives than other white or wholemeal loaves, it's an excellent choice for those looking to reduce their intake of ultra-processed foods - and it's delicious too.

When sourdough bread comes to mind, I immediately think of Jason's brand. I've been a loyal customer for a while now, and it's often the only brand I pick up from the supermarket. The price usually falls between £2.15 and £2.50 for a loaf, which isn't excessive, but I'm always on the hunt for ways to stretch my food shopping budget so I decided to try four different supermarket own-brand sourdough loaves to see how they stack up against my favourite Jason's.

I ventured to my local Tesco, Aldi, Asda and Sainsbury's in pursuit of sourdough, returning home with more bread than I knew what to do with. Prices varied from a mere £1.75 to £2.44, which was quite surprising, particularly since the most expensive loaf was one of the smallest.

With the toaster warmed up and a generous portion of Kerrygold at the ready in the butter dish, I sampled a slice of each to see if any could rival the well-known brand. I already had a ciabattini from Jason's in my cupboard, so I made sure to include a slice of this in my taste test.

It's becoming increasingly challenging to find the original loaf in any supermarket, which made me even more determined to discover a worthy alternative.

There was a clear loser, but there was also a definite winner, cheaper than Jason's, and it's one that I wouldn't hesitate to buy again.

Jason's Ciabattini - £2.15

This is the bread that I purchase most weeks since the original Jason's seems impossible to find these days. However, it's still rather tasty - it has that classic chewy sourdough texture, but with a little extra flavour thanks to the way it's made.

The slices are a bit smaller than a classic sourdough loaf would be, but it means they fit in the toaster perfectly, so there's a silver lining.

You also get a decent amount of slices, and it freezes well too. The only thing I'm not crazy about is that it's not great for sandwiches, but for toast, you really can't go wrong.

Score: 8/10

Asda - £2.44

This was the priciest loaf that I tried, so you can imagine my shock when I came home and counted just eight slices in the whole pack.

The 'exceptional' range at Asda is usually pretty good and worth the extra money - especially the Greek yoghurt - so I had high hopes for the bread. But sadly, it fell a little bit flat.

It was a bit flavourless, and the texture was very dense. Saying that, the slices were huge and soft, so it gets an extra point for that.

Score: 7/10

Aldi - £1.75

Tied with Tesco, this loaf was the cheapest of the lot.

It just didn't really taste like sourdough to me at all. There was no chewy element, it was very dry, and the crust was nowhere near crispy enough for my liking.

I spotted a rye variant on the shelf, so I'll have to pop back and give that a whirl. However, the white version didn't quite hit the mark for me, and it's unlikely I'd purchase it again.

Score: 5/10

Sainsbury's - £1.95

Sainsbury's isn't a shop I frequent often, particularly as it's a smaller high-street branch which I presumed to be pricier. Yet, this loaf was surprisingly affordable.

As for the taste, it was rather impressive. It boasted a tangy flavour, was incredibly soft, and toasted beautifully.

However, the slices were cut rather thin and some of the smaller pieces were minuscule, with quite large holes too. Despite this, it ranked as my second favourite, and I would certainly buy it again.

Score: 8/10

Tesco - £1.75

This loaf was the clear champion for me. The crust was spot on, it had a delightful deep flavour with just the right hint of saltiness, and it tasted even better after a quick toast.

The slices were ideally sized, and although there are only eight in a pack, I'd argue it was worth it. It loses a point for the number of holes in the bread - something that Jason's didn't have, but I think I preferred the overall taste of this loaf.

Plus, it was cheaper too, costing £1.75 with a Clubcard - what's not to like?

Rating: 9/10