THERE’S nothing better than cooling down with a tropical Solero on a hot summer day.
A box of three Soleros cost an average of £1.90 last year, but the same pack will now set you pack around £2.30 in most supermarkets, according to Trolley.
I tested supermarket own brand Solero’s – and the winner was just delicious
Own brand ice creams will cost you less, but will they satisfy those summer afternoon cravings?
I put them to the test and gave each item a score out of ten for taste and value for money. Here’s what I found.
Solero (£2.50 for three or 83p each)
Solero is a classic summer treat and these lollies are delicious
You can’t go wrong with a classic Solero and it was the perfect combination of refreshing and creamy.
But it’s impossible to deny that a box is pretty pricey. I picked up a box of three for £2.50 from Tesco – or 83p a lolly.
Buying these treats will add up over the summer, especially if you have a big family
Taste: 10/10
Value: 6/10
Overall score: 16/20
Aldi Tropico (£1.19 for three or 39p each)
Aldi’s bargain version transported me to a Spanish beach
Good news for Aldi shoppers, because the supermarket’s lollies aren’t just tasty – they are also the cheapest.
I thoroughly enjoyed these dupes of Walls Solero and they cost £1.31 less – just 39p a lolly.
The pineapple flavour was much stronger in these Aldi’s lollies than in the original Solero.
This lolly was the closest I have come to a tropical holiday for a while – and I loved it.
Taste: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Overall score: 18/20
Asda Fruity Moments Tropical Ice Creams (£1.35 for three or 45p each)
Asda’s version didn’t live up to expectations
Asda’s offering was a bit too fragrant for me.
While I enjoyed the strong pineapple taste of the Aldi lollies, this one was a bit too overwhelming.
That said, I still finished the ice cream and I did get used to the taste after a while.
They are pretty cheap at 45p an ice-cream, but I won’t be rushing back to Asda to get more.
Taste: 5/10
Value: 7/10
Overall score: 12/20
Morrisons Tropical Swirls (£1.49 for three or 49p each)
Morrisons own brand is worth a try
Morrisons Swirls look almost identical to the Walls Solero and are a good price.
Sadly though, they just weren’t as tasty – they were a bit biter for me.
That said, they were smooth and pretty creamy.
A good value option from Morrisons which I would consider buying again.
Price: £1.49 for three
Taste: 7/10
Value: 8/10
Overall score: 15/20
Overall verdict
It’s easy to become dedicated to one particular brand, but having tasted the alternatives, there’s no need to stay loyal.
Nearly all of these own brands had their good points, whether that’s on taste or value for money.
Often you have to fork out a little more for something that’s top quality.
But that’s not always the case – Aldi was my favourite and it was the best of both worlds – cheap and delicious.
We also tested supermarket own milk chocolate – and a 36p bar is better than Cadbury.
Plus, we tried the sell out Prime sports drink from KSI and Logan Paul – but it turned out to be a bit of a flop.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]