The supermarket cider that’s BETTER than Kopparberg – and it’s almost half the price
KOPPARBERG is the drink of choice for many in the summer with its bold, fruity ciders quenching our thirst on hot days.
The Swedish drinks brand recently added to its range with a sweet vintage apple cider and a mango flavour – but our favourite is the strawberry and lime.
It combines the sweetness of fresh strawberries with the tangy zest of lime, but it doesn’t come cheap.
One 500ml bottle will set you back around £2.65 depending on where you shop, and the high price has prompted some supermarkets to bring out some dupes.
But do they taste as good? Lynsey Hope finds out.
As always, if you’re enjoying a drink or two, remember to be Drinkaware.
Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime (500ml)
- £2.65, Ocado
- 53p per 100ml
This mixed fruit bottle of Kopparberg is synonymous with summer.
It’s sweet without being sickly and there’s no bitterness or potent aftertaste as you get with some ciders.
The carbonation is perfect with enough fizz to make this drink refreshing and not enough to bloat you.
It’s a very pretty rose pink colour. I loved sipping this whilst soaking up the sun in the garden.
It’s the perfect drink to get you through a heatwave.
- Taste: 5/5
- Value: 4/5
- Overall score: 9/10
Rekorderlig Strawberry-Lime Premium Swedish Cider (500ml)
- £2.28, Asda
- 45.6p per 100ml
This was very dark pink in colour and fizzy.
It had a strong strawberry aroma but it tasted a little artificial and very tart.
The drink was way too sweet with too much sugar – it was like sipping candy floss.
A few cubes of ice did water it down a bit and improved the taste. But I’d rather spend an extra 37p for the bottle of Kopparberg.
- Taste: 2/5
- Value: 2/5
- Overall score: 4/10
M&S Cornish Cider with Blackberry and Blackcurrant (500ml)
- £2.75, Ocado
- 55p per 100ml
Hardly a budget option, this M&S bottle is more expensive than the leading brand, but this cider is refreshing, fruity and slightly tart.
The berries gave it a lovely, earthy flavour. It didn’t taste syrupy and artificial like a lot of fruit ciders.
Sparking, refreshing and not overly sweet.
- Taste: 4/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 7/10
Lidl’s Sotma Strawberry and Lime Cider (500ml)
- £1.49, Lidl
- 29.8p per 100ml
You could easily pick this off the Lidl shelf thinking it was a bottle of Kopparberg.
The branding is virtually identical. It looks the same when you pour it into the glass too, coming out with a lovely fizz and a pale, rose pink colour.
Taste wise though, it’s not as good. It’s heavier to drink, rich, thicker and overly sweet.
The strawberry flavour tastes like a kids’ yoghurt.
It is a good price at just £1.49 a bottle- that’s £1.16 cheaper than the Kopparberg so definitely a good saving if you sip a lot of these.
It’s also available in handy cans at Lidl.
- Taste: 3/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 6/10
Cranes Cider Cranberry and Limes (500ml)
- £2.45, Ocado
- 49p per 100ml
The dark red colour made me think this would be heavy but it was sharp and fruity with a mellow cranberry taste and a tart finish from the lime zest.
Acidic and tart, but in a good way, and very refreshing. Reasonably priced.
Lovely and refreshing for a summer’s day.
- Taste: 4/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 7/10
Sainsbury’s Strawberry Daiquiri Cider (500ml)
- £2.20, Sainsbury’s
- 44p per 100ml
A strawberry and lime cider with a hint of rum. It’s very refreshing but it doesn’t taste of cider.
It doesn’t even look like a bottle of cider though the packaging is very pretty.
It’s smooth and easy to drink, but it’s more like an alcopop – and very sweet.
It’s a very artificial pink colour. Not sure I’d buy it again.
- Taste: 3/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 6/10
Alska Strawberry and Lime Cider (500ml)
- £1.79, Aldi
- 35.8p per 100ml
For those who want to save a bit of cash on their bottle of cider, a swap to Aldi’s version is definitely worth it.
It has the same delicious sweetness of Kopparberg to begin with followed by a bitter tang.
The strawberry flavour was strong and refreshing. Taste wise it’s virtually identical.
The only difference is it has a little less fizz.
This might be an issue for some cider lovers, but it didn’t bother me, given the amazing price.
- Taste: 5/5
- Value: 5/5
- Overall score: 10/10
How to save money on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
