Cheddar is a core part of the supermarket shop for many. It’s a versatile and popular cheese that originated in the village of, you guessed it, Cheddar in Somerset.

While it’s known for its tang and mellow creaminess, there’s now a lot of variety within the category, with mild, medium and mature offerings often quite different tastes and textures. According to cheese writer and educator Patrick McGuigan, this comes down to ageing. “Traditionally, mild would be three months, medium six months, mature 12 months, extra mature 18 months, vintage 24 months,” he explains. “But in reality, these ages are probably much lower in most block cheddar versions.” This means it's worth checking the specified ageing time on the block.

But as with lots of items in your weekly food shop, the cost of cheddar cheese has risen significantly. If this has led you to turn to supermarket own-brand options, you’re not alone – and I’ve put a range to the test to find the best supermarket cheddar cheeses.

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The best supermarket cheddar cheeses for 2026 are:

  • Best overall–- Best- budget buy– Aldi emporium British mature cheddar cheese: £2.49, Aldi.co.uk
  • Best for versatility– Sainsbury's British mature cheddar cheese: £2.50, Sainsburys.co.uk
  • Best for a cheeseboard –Aldi specially selected West Country vintage cheddar cheese: £3.39, Aldi.co.uk
  • Best organic– Waitrose duchy organic mature cheddar cheese strength 4: £4.75, Waitrose.com

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  • Bestsupermarket cheddar overall
  • Price per 100g£1.14
  • Why we love it- Satisfying texture
  • Flavoursome

After working my way through countless blocks of cheese, it’s the Tesco Finest mature that takes the top spot as the best supermarket cheddar. This is because of its great depth of flavour and crumbly but creamy texture.

Made at the Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall and typically matured for 12 months, it’s flavoursome and has a satisfying texture. Despite being comparably priced to other supermarket options, it tastes high-quality. If you do your weekly food shop in Tesco, you’re in luck.

  • Bestsupermarket cheddar for versatility
  • Price per 100g£1.14
  • Why we love it- Crowd-pleaser

  • Has a subtle tang

  • Take note- No crumb

Sainsbury's British mature Cheddar cheese is another smoother option, making it versatile for use on sandwiches, omelettes, or grated into dishes. I was expecting a mild taste, but was pleasantly surprised by its subtle kick on the palate.

With so many uses across different dishes and a reasonable price, it’s a great cheddar for big families that still delivers on taste.

  • Bestbudget supermarket cheddar
  • Price per 100g60p
  • Why we love it- Decent tang

  • Great value

  • Take note- Milder than other mature cheeses tested

I wouldn’t blame you if you mistook the Aldi emporium British mature cheddar for butter; it’s that creamy. No surprise, it has a smooth texture, but the subtle tang was well received.

I wouldn’t recommend it if you like a punchy, tangy cheddar, but it’s by no means the mildest. Plus at 62p per 100g, it’s the best budget supermarket cheddar I tasted. It’s certainly a great option for grating on your baked beans.

  • Bestorganic supermarket cheddar
  • Price per 100g£1.36
  • Why we love it- Full-bodied taste

  • Organic

  • Take note- Pricier than other supermarket options

If you only shop organic, I’d recommend Waitrose’s mature cheddar from its Duchy Organic range. It delivers as much on taste as it does on responsible practices. The cheddar is made by cheesemakers at Taw Valley creamery in Devon.

The cheese is smooth with a slight crumb, rich and full-bodied. It has a well-rounded, mature taste while remaining creamy and is a punch to the senses. The only downside is the price.

  • Bestsupermarket cheddar for cheeseboards
  • Price per 100g£1.13
  • Why we love it- Super tangy

  • Well priced

  • Take note- Might be too strong for some

Aldi’s West Country vintage cheddar cheese was the biggest curveball when testing. It’s super-sharp and has an almost crunchy, crumbly texture.

While it might be too punchy for some, it’ll tick the boxes for those who like it strong – and it’s well-priced. If you’re putting together a cheese board, this will make a great addition and stand up to other punchy cheeses.

  • Bestcrowd-pleasing supermarket cheddar
  • Price per 100g80p
  • Why we love it- Suits a variety of palates and dishes

  • Great value

  • Take note- Quite mild

M&S’s British Mature Cheddar is made at the same place as Waitrose, the Taw Valley Creamery. I’d say the number 5 on the label is a little deceiving as it is much more of a creamy, milky Cheddar rather than tangy, as its description says.

That being said, it’s a tasty Cheddar that feels high quality and works just as well in toasties, as it would on a cheese platter. Plus, at 80p per 100g, it’s great value.

  • Bestmellow supermarket cheddar
  • Price per 100g70p
  • Why we love it- Creamy and smooth

  • Great value

  • Take note- Pretty mild

This mature Cheddar cheese hails from Waitrose’s essentials range and is surprisingly, the second cheapest in this guide. I found it pretty mild despite its number 4 label, but it means it's easy eating for both adults and kids.

It’s less rich than its organic counterpart from the supermarket, but if you like a smooth, milky cheese this might work for you.

  • Bestsupermarket cheddar for cooking
  • Price per 100g80p
  • Why we love it- Milky

  • Great value

  • Take note- Taste is a little underwhelming

Tesco’s mature Cheddar offers great value for money at 80p per 100g. While it’s pretty pale in colour, it cuts with a decent crumbliness.

Taste-wise, it’s not that punchy or distinctive as a mature Cheddar. I can imagine it’ll work well for kids’ sandwiches, who might recoil over sharp tanginess, or in cooking as it grates well.