Shops' best kept secrets

apprentice_tycoon

I'm going to go to Aldi (Lidl seems to get more favourable mentions here but Aldi is the only one near me) for the first time....bit wary.....there have been some good comments about their own brands in the previous posts, and I will base my shopping list around them, but not many 'bad' reviews, can someone give me an idea of what I SHOULDN'T buy, if I go wrong I fear that it will end up in the bin, we aren't very good about eating up things we don't like

beachbeth

Asda Smartprice tomato ketchup at 40p for 483g is really nice and doesn't taste cheap and nasty or runny. I wish I had an Asda in a more convenient location so that I could buy it!

Aldi's plain digestive biscuits are gorgeous, much better than McVities and I go out of my way to go and buy a packet when I run out. (Can't remember the price but they are cheap!)

Sainsbury's milk chocolate digestives are absolutely scrummy too. I find McVities have too many bits of oat that get stuck in your teeth but Sainsbury's are lovely. The chocolate on top is really nice too. (They did a taste test on chocolate biscuits on This Morning a couple of years ago and the whole panel voted the Sainsbury ones top!). They are 78p for 400g compared to McVities £1.04 for the same size.

beachbeth

Also Sainsbury's own Anjou white wine is really lovely and only £3.09. It is a nice medium white wine, not too sweet and not too dry and not vinegary. Everyone Ive given it to has liked it.

Chris25

RachelD wrote:

There are whole aisles of Lidl that I by pass, eg I've never rated their washing powder of washing up liquid. Anyone founf good alternatives for Ariel Colour?

Rachel

I use their colourwash liquid and think it's fine.
I use their washing up liquid only; it's the only one that doesn't bring out a rash on my hands, it's so mild. Mind you, I don't like the smell of the raspberry one - yuk

foreverskint

Lidl's walnut ice cream is sooo scrummy. Their mozzarella is good value too for homemade pizzas. Their nappies and baby wipes are excellent as is their breadmaking flour. less than half the price of allinsons and in my opinion a nicer flavoured loaf. I could carry on but my mind has gone a bit blank

stellagypsy

Apprentice tycoon - Most of Aldi's stuff is comparable with big brand name stuff BUT I personally would not buy - tea bags (I like strong tea and am wary of trying new brands) or coffee (don't drink the stuff myself by OH likes gold blend and that is that!).

Other than that - go for it. I also always use their wash tablets (the ones with Aloe Vera) - only need to use 1 per wash as we have incredibly soft water here, amazing value. Also use their cleaning stuff, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, toothpaste, - pretty much everything. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality and amazed how much you save.

Stella

moggins

The Aldi Columbian coffee that comes in the black jars is not bad at all, it's not as good as the Nescafe columbian but it's better than supermarket ordinary stuff IYKWIM?

Oh, and Lidl do a breakfast pack that is to die for, it's like a mixed grill thing with sausages and hash browns and it's only £1.99 for a big tray. It's the one thing I sometimes splurge on and give us a cooked breakfast on a Saturday.

foreverskint

moggins wrote:

The Aldi Columbian coffee that comes in the black jars is not bad at all, it's not as good as the Nescafe columbian but it's better than supermarket ordinary stuff IYKWIM?

Oh, and Lidl do a breakfast pack that is to die for, it's like a mixed grill thing with sausages and hash browns and it's only £1.99 for a big tray. It's the one thing I sometimes splurge on and give us a cooked breakfast on a Saturday.

KNow what you mean about the breakfast pack moggins, I can feel the fat laying down as I think about it. good though.

catznine

Lidls Cherry jam is really lovely IMO much nicer than the posher brands.

Jay-Jay_4

catznine wrote:

Lidls Cherry jam is really lovely IMO much nicer than the posher brands.

My Dad has pretty horrendous gout and apparently cherries are good for it anyway, the reason our family started using Lidl was because my Dad was told about their cherry jam! That was years ago and Mum and Dad now shop there regularly, my sister and I go occasionally.

We all buy the cherry jam, it's delicious and I totally agree, MUCH better than other, more expensive, brands (especially melted and poured over roast duck )