Ah, the humble crisp. Rarely does something so simple bring so much comfort and joy. Salty, crunchy and all sorts of shapes and sizes, we simply can't get enough of them.
We've all got our favourite flavours too. You might like to keep it simple with a bag of Ready Salted or spice things up with a Sweet Chilli or a Flame Grilled Steak. Those with no taste buds might even opt for these Brussels Sprouts flavoured monstrosities.
Read more: We compared Nutella to Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl own brands
According to a 2020 survey, however, the definitive 'nation's favourite' is in fact Walkers' Cheese and Onion, with the blue bag beating the likes of Pringles, Monster Munch and Doritos to the top spot. Customers aren't always satisfied though, like this woman who was left stunned when she opened a packet of the crisps to find it completely empty.
But while Walkers has been named number one, it hasn't stopped supermarkets from putting out their own brand of cheese and onion crisps, often for a much cheaper price.
The question has to be asked, therefore: is Walkers really the best that money can buy? Or have we been blind to the beauty of the own-brand multi-packs at the bottom of the supermarket shelves?
So, like a prime Gary Lineker with smaller ears and a poorer goal-scoring record, I tucked into the cheese and onion offerings of four major supermarkets to see how they compared to the beloved original.
Tesco - 77p
The first batch of own-brand crisps I tried were from Tesco and, at almost half the price of the Walkers on the shelf above it, this 77p multi-pack of six represented great value, working out at just under 13p a packet. When it came to the taste test, I was struck by how sweet the crisps were. There was a interesting caramelised onion flavour to them which was certainly not unpleasant, but could be overpowering if you're looking to devour the whole packet. Texture-wise, I also had no complaints, with each crisp having a strong, satisfying crunch.
Score: 3/5
Asda - 82p
Despite being a slightly more expensive option at 82p, you won't exactly be breaking the bank for a cheese and onion multi-pack at Asda, with each bag just under 14p each. Again, there was a good crunch and a very strong flavour. This time, however, it was a smoky cheese taste that was dominant, with only a hint of onion. They were tasty and would definitely suffice if you need a satisfying snack. It was however, the only packet I tried that I struggled to finish, such was the richness of the crisps.
Score: 3/5
Morrisons - 85p
Despite being the most expensive own-brand pack I tried and the first to break the 14ppp (pence per packet) barrier, these crisps from Morrisons were also the most disappointing of the lot. Quite simply, they didn’t taste of much at all. While other supermarkets’ efforts were packed with flavour, these were closer to Ready Salted than Cheese and Onion, and were really quite boring. It’s not quite as important as flavour, sure, but the texture was a bit odd too, and there was no satisfying crunch either, much to my disappointment.
Score: 2/5
Aldi - 69p
These crisps are great. Firstly, the price is unbeatable. At just 69p for a pack of six, you’re getting a packet for just 11.5p, a couple of pence cheaper than the other supermarkets. It may not sound like much, but it soon adds up. I was fully expecting to taste the savings, but to my surprise, the flavours were head and shoulders above the rest of the field. The cheese and onion were perfectly balanced, with the intense initial flavour subsiding gradually to create a really moreish and delicious snack. Unlike a lot of its competitors, the Aldi crisps weren't at all greasy, while the all-important crunch was, in a word, perfect. No notes.
Score: 5/5
Walkers - £1.50
I’d tried the best of the rest, but how would they stack up against the beloved original? At £1.50 for a multi-pack (in Tesco), more than double Aldi's own-brand, expectations were certainly high. (However - disclaimer: I did use a 'grab bag' of Walkers for this, which were a stonking 85p, but were also nearly double the size of the other packets).
You wouldn't guess it, but I'd negotiated a bag of Walkers Cheese and Onion once or twice before, so I knew what to expect. They were fine. Again, the flavours were a lot more balanced, with the smoky cheese and sweeter onion complementing each other nicely. They were properly crunchy, which would normally get a big thumbs up from me, but my fingers were covered in grease after a few mouthfuls, which was a bit off-putting. No real complaints other than that, but they weren't my favourite.
Score: 4/5
It had been an emotional journey, and one that had left me on the verge of scurvy. But my snacking was not in vain, as a new king of the cheese and onion crisp world had been crowned. Aldi's own-brand crisps were by far and away the best on offer, from their incredibly low price to its bold flavours and satisfying crunch. For less than 12p a bag, you simply can't beat them. Don't get me wrong, Gary, Walkers are still very nice - but you've got some company at the top of the table.
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