Is Branston still best? Pickles tried and tasted

We test the classic pickle against its supermarket rivals to find out which to bring out for your sandwiches, cheeses and meats.

pickle in a bowl with a spoon next to a pork pie
Image credit: Getty Images
By Saga Magazine | Published - 24 Jun 2025
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1. Branston Original Pickle

Winner

360g, £2.10

This classic British favourite did not fail to impress!

The tangy sauce, with malty sweetness, was perfectly balanced and blended well with the crunchy diced veg.

  • 9/10

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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Our reviewers are mother and daughter team Diana Redfern and Emma Gill. 

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