Is Branston still best? Pickles tried and tasted

2. Tracklements Perfect Ploughman’s Pickle

245g, £3.75

A rather runny pickle with a pale colour that made it look homemade but not very appetising.

However, it tasted delicious. With small cubes of crunchy veg in a slightly sweet sauce, it’s mild and different.

• 8/10

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3. Aldi Bramwell's Sweet Pickle

390g, £1.25

Not for the faint-hearted, this good-value pickle contained large chunks of perfectly cooked veg in a vinegar-heavy sauce, which certainly packs a punch.

If you are fan of pickled onions, this is for you.

• 7/10

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4. Waitrose Ploughman's Pickle

310g, £2.60

A dark, richly coloured pickle, subtly sweet rather than sharp with smaller chunks of veg that were a little soft.

The overall consistency made it more suited for a sandwich rather than as a portion presented on the plate.

• 7/10

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5. Lidl Batts Sweet Pickle

390g, £1.19

A great-value pickle which, with its strong pickled onion flavour, would be an ideal complement to a cheese ploughman’s.

The tangy sauce was a rich, dark colour and contained plenty of large, crunchy vegetable chunks.

• 7/10

6. Tesco Sandwich Pickle

295g, £1.45

Very small chunks of rather soft veg including an abundance of onion.

The sauce was gloopy and left a strong, vinegary aftertaste.

• 5/10

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7. Sweet Pickle by Sainsbury’s

295g, £1.15

This was sweeter than most with a somewhat artificial flavour.

Smooth in texture with a light taste as the fino lemon juice did not really deliver a deep citrus tang.

• 5/10

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