People have been swearing by Fage when it comes to Greek yoghurt but there are cheaper alternatives. Will any of them challenge it?
Greek yoghurt(Image: Nicola Roy)
Greek yoghurt has soared in popularity as a breakfast staple for countless people. Rich, velvety and thoroughly satisfying, it works equally well dolloped on pancakes or topped with berries, nuts and a drizzle of honey.
Breakfast yoghurt bowls are currently taking over social media, so it comes as little surprise that Greek yoghurt has been flying off supermarket shelves. Fage, the leading Greek yoghurt brand, has become increasingly difficult to track down in stores and doesn’t come cheap either.
With this in mind, I decided to put three supermarket own-brand versions to the test to find out whether a worthy alternative existed — and one stood out as the obvious winner. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here
As someone who eats Greek yoghurt for breakfast almost every morning, I typically get through two tubs a week. Yet with Fage rarely dropping below £3 for a 450g tub, the expense quickly adds up, particularly when it’s being used for baking or other recipes.
Supermarket own-brand options tend to be significantly more budget-friendly, so I headed to my three closest stores — Aldi, M&S and Lidl — and picked up their respective 0% fat Greek yoghurt offerings to put them up against my go-to Fage, reports The Express.
I was searching for the perfect balance of creaminess, smooth texture and a satisfying thickness — and I believe I found it.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say it surpassed Fage, and at a fraction of the price.
Fage – £3.75
I had to begin with my tried-and-tested favourite brand. This yoghurt has earned its reputation for good reason – it boasts an impressively thick and creamy texture, while remaining low in sugar and high in protein, which makes it ideal for incorporating into a wide variety of recipes.
I’ve utilised it to enrich dishes such as curries and pasta sauces, and have even used it in bread-making, but for this taste test, I simply paired it with a drizzle of honey.
The flavour is almost dessert-like, with no sharp tang whatsoever. Its texture is nearly whipped, and I find myself wanting it every single morning the moment I wake up.
As you’ll see, no large tubs were in stock at my local Tesco – it normally sells for £3.75, whereas this smaller pot was priced at £1.65, though I’ve used the larger tub’s cost for comparison. It’s clearly a popular product, and rightly so.
M&S – £2.30
Marks and Spencer seldom lets me down, so I was keen to put this yoghurt to the test.
I’d previously sampled the Collection 10% fat version and really enjoyed it, so I was interested to see how the 0% alternative would compare.
After peeling back the foil lid, it didn’t look quite as velvety and smooth as Fage, though a quick mix sorted out any watery sections. The texture was reassuringly thick, which seemed promising, but of course, the real test lay in the taste itself.
At first, it was excellent – beautifully creamy and indulgent, precisely as I’d anticipated. However, the slightly sharp aftertaste proved somewhat disappointing.
I realise this is a standard trait of Greek yoghurt, and some extra toppings would have masked it, but on the whole it was entirely satisfactory.
On a more positive note, I’d anticipated it being more expensive, so I’d still suggest it if you’re fond of Fage but keen to trim a few pounds from your weekly yoghurt spending.
Lidl – £1.99
Significantly cheaper than both M&S and Fage, Lidl’s 500g Milbona Greek yoghurt even boasts an attractive Greek-themed foil lid, which added a nice touch.
Regrettably, though, it didn’t quite measure up against the competition. The instant I plunged my spoon in for a stir, it became obvious that it lacked the thickness of its competitors.
It wasn’t watery by any means – Greek yoghurt seldom is – but having sampled the genuinely dense texture of M&S and Fage, this felt noticeably different, and not in a favourable way.
The consistency felt considerably thinner as well, and despite adding a drizzle of honey, the taste was noticeably more muted. You definitely get what you pay for with the lower price point, and it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be in any hurry to buy this one again.
Aldi – £1.99
Tying with Lidl as the cheapest option available, Aldi’s 0% Greek yoghurt proved so sought-after that I had to visit two different Aldi branches before finally locating it. Understandably, this set my expectations rather high.
It’s common knowledge that Aldi and Lidl provide superior value compared to their rivals, and while I conduct the bulk of my shopping at these retailers, I’ll concede that occasionally it’s worth popping into other shops for certain items.
Greek yoghurt, as I’ve now learnt, simply isn’t one of them. The budget supermarket’s Brooklea range proved just as thick and creamy as Fage, with a consistency so velvety-smooth it almost resembled high-end ice cream.
I’m genuinely astonished this costs so little – in my opinion, it’s among the finest I’ve tasted.
The verdict
After sampling all the different yoghurt varieties, I instantly knew where my preferences lay.
Regrettably, Lidl comes bottom of my list, due to its more watery texture – it’s simply not what you’d anticipate from proper Greek yoghurt.
Next up was M&S. I was somewhat surprised, as I’d expected this to perform better, but its tangy flavour proved rather underwhelming. However, if you favour a richer fat content, I’d strongly recommend the 10% version, which has consistently impressed whenever I’ve bought it.
Even more surprisingly, Aldi narrowly beat Fage to claim top spot in my tasting. It delivered a flavour well above what its price tag would suggest, costing significantly less than the branded alternative while offering superior texture as well.
You’ll likely struggle to notice any difference if you make this swap, so if you’re keen to cut costs while still indulging your yoghurt fix, I’d wholeheartedly endorse Aldi.
