As Shrove Tuesday approaches on February 17, households across the UK are preparing to indulge in the beloved tradition of pancake making. Historically, Pancake Day served as a practical way to use up rich ingredients like milk and eggs before the Lenten fast. This year, our culinary investigation turns to a quintessential British topping: golden syrup. With numerous supermarket own-brands vying for attention, we embarked on a mission to determine whether any could rival the iconic Lyle's Golden Syrup.
The Pancake Day Golden Syrup Taste Test
We purchased golden syrups from six major UK supermarkets: Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons. Each product was rigorously assessed on three key criteria: price per 100 grams, flavour profile, and that all-important 'drizzle factor' – how well it pours onto a fluffy pancake. Whipping up a batch as a weekend treat, here is our detailed, family-approved verdict.
Lyle's Golden Syrup: The Classic Contender
Lyle's Golden Syrup, the benchmark brand, is priced at £1.80 for a 325g tin at Tesco, equating to 55p per 100g. It's currently on offer at Asda for £1.24, reducing the cost to 38p per 100g. The packaging featured a convenient snap-off plastic catch, eliminating messy finger-peeling of seals. Nutritionally, it contains 314 calories and 79g of sugar per 100g.
Its drizzle was impeccable – neither too runny nor too thick, creating the perfect pour. The flavour delivered the rich, sweet, and subtly smoky taste that has made it a household name. It earned a solid 5 out of 5 stars from our testers.
Tesco Golden Syrup: A Solid Mid-Range Option
Tesco's offering costs £1.70 for a large 680g bottle, working out to just 25p per 100g. It contains 335 calories and 74.7g of sugar per 100g. The syrup drizzled nicely, forming attractive swirls on the pancake. While the flavour was pleasant, it lacked a distinctive character. We awarded it a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Morrisons Golden Syrup: A Disappointing Pour
Priced at £1.75 for 750g (23p per 100g), Morrisons' syrup contained 330 calories and 81g of sugar per 100g. Unfortunately, it proved too runny and had an overwhelmingly sickly-sweet taste with a synthetic edge. It failed to impress, scoring a low 2 out of 5 stars.
Sainsbury's Golden Syrup: An Unfortunate Aftertaste
Sainsbury's Golden Syrup is £2 for 750g, or 27p per 100g, with 316 calories and 79g of sugar per 100g. While the consistency was good, the flavour was bland and left a strange, burnt aftertaste that was mistaken for overcooked pancake. It received a poor 1 out of 5 stars.
Lidl Golden Syrup: The Surprise Champion
Lidl's Belbake Golden Syrup was the standout bargain at £1.35 for 750g, a mere 18p per 100g. It contains 319 calories and 79g of sugar per 100g. Labelled as an 'improved recipe', it poured perfectly, creating beautiful, sticky swirls. The flavour was exceptional, with deep notes of dark molasses and brown sugar that evoked nostalgic childhood memories. It earned a resounding 5 out of 5 stars.
Aldi Golden Syrup: Lacking in Body and Flavour
Aldi's syrup is identically priced to Lidl's at £1.35 for 750g (18p per 100g) and has similar nutritional values (317 calories, 79g sugar per 100g). However, it was excessively runny, spilling rather than drizzling, and offered very little discernible taste. It scored 2 out of 5 stars.
M&S Golden Syrup: A Sticky Situation
Marks & Spencer's version is £1.95 for 680g (29p per 100g), containing 320 calories and 69.9g of sugar per 100g. It was frustratingly thick, requiring the label's suggested tip of running a spoon under warm water to help it flow. Despite its unctuous texture, the flavour was disappointingly lacking, warranting only 2 out of 5 stars.
The Overall Verdict
In a surprising turn of events, the clear winner of our Pancake Day golden syrup taste test was not the traditional favourite. While Lyle's performed excellently, Lidl's Belbake Golden Syrup triumphed with its superior, complex flavour and unbeatable value. At almost a third of the price of Lyle's standard retail cost, it proves that for Shrove Tuesday 2026, the best golden syrup for your pancakes doesn't have to cost a fortune.
