The Aldi Project: Reviewing Aldi Australia Snacks
Aldi Australia has a wide range of snacks. Given the widespread popularity of snack eating in Australia, Aldi knockoffs can become serious contenders if you’re serious about enjoying comfort foods but want to watch the weekly shopping budget.
Damora Chicken Flavoured Snacks
These were an absolute dead ringer for ‘Chicken-in-a-biskit’ flavour and biscuit texture wise. I wouldn’t be at all suprised if they were both made at the same factory or at least with very similar ingredients making up the flavouring. At $1.39 each these are excellent value compared to Arnotts Shapes or the in-a-biskit snacks which are usually well over $2.
Manufactured: Australia
New Day Bubble Bar Choc Rainbow
These were the most chocalety looking bars Aldi had, they weren’t bad but they weren’t good either. It was like someone had taken half the chocolate flavour out of a normal ‘rice bubbles’ type bar, the end result being the rice bubble taste was a lot more prominent then the chocolate, the smartie type things on the top of the bars was a nice touch though. Kids probably wouldn’t complain about it but for adults you’d probably want something a bit more chocolatey in taste.
Manufactured: New Zealand (from local and imported ingredients)
Chocolate Stampede Dairy Snack
These looked decent enough in the store but when I got home I noticed a whole bunch of asian (chinese?) writing on the packet which set off my alarm bells. It says it’s manufactured in Australia (from imported ingredients) so I’m not sure if the asian writing was on there because Aldi are exporting them or whether they are being dodgy and importing them.
Asian writing on pack
The snack itself is like the dark chocolate version of regular dairy snacks. The taste of the Aldi version feels like it is missing milk, it’s got a distinct bitter chocolately taste to it which I’m not a fan of. I like my chocolate milky and sweet. There was also drips of the product on the outside of the tub I opened, initially I thought mine must have been leaking but the seal waas intact, not sure if one of the other tubs are leaking in the pack or it was dodgily packed at the plant.
Either way, this 12 pack was only 50-60c cheaper then the regular Milo packs I get so I’ll be steering clear of this snack in the future.
Manufactured: Australia (from local and imported ingredients)
Potato Sprinters Chips
When it comes to salt and vinegar chips the only thing that matters is the balance between salt and vinegar. You could be eating a chip made from the world greatest potato but if the flavouring isn’t balanced it’s going to taste horrible.
Salt and Vinegar Potato Sprinters (no idea what the brand is supposed to mean, everytime I see it I think ‘potato sphincters’) get the ratio right but the intensity of the flavour felt like about half that of named brands. They also left a powdery sensation in my mouth, i’m not sure if that was just the fine salt used or the actual potato chip itself.
I did get thirsty extremely quick so it was probably the salt they used. If you eat chips a lot then the taste hit might justify the cost saving, however if they are a treat for you it might be worth spending the extra 50-70c and getting a stronger flavour experience.
Chicken flavour didn’t leave me with the powdery taste in my mouth and the weaker flavour actually works in its favour. Usually when you buy chicken chips the flavouring is so strong you tend to feel a bit bloated halfway down the packet and have to have a break, with the Sprinter variety it almost felt like I was eating a light (i’m tempted to say diet but diet varities of things tend to have a crap taste and the taste here was actually good) chip.
Barbeque flavour had me harkening back to the glorious Samboy chip days. These not only didn’t have the powdery effect of salt and vinegar but they also had the flavour balance just right too. Easily the best of the three flavours on offer.
Manufactured: Australia (from local and imported ingredients)
Corale Baked Beans – Tomato
These baked beans retail for what “premium” baked beans sell for when on special at the major supermarkets. For 99c they are a bargain and definately worth having a few in the pantry. The tomato taste is just right and the beans taste exactly the same as Heinz etc. that cost upwards of $1.50.
Manufactured: Italy
Jade Cup Noodles
Most cup noodles start at about $1.50 and work their way up to $5 for the premium asian ones with real beed pieces inside. Jade cup noodles weigh in at 80c each, for the price they are excellent value even if they are a bit salty tasting, probably a result of slightly more sodium then other brands.
The noodles come in a cup and you get a standard dried vegetable packet and flavour satchel. No oils, onions or chili. Beef flavour was a bit weak but still tasty, chicken and corn flavour was massively salty but still edible. Flavours available are Beef, Chicken, Chicken and Corn and Oriental. All four suffer from the generic salty taste.
Probably not something you’d want to eat everyday but good enough for the odd lunch snack at work or on the weekend. I’ll probably stick to the Asian grocery store offerings (Imperial big bowl chilli beef or Mi-Goreng satay) for now.
Manufactured: Australia
Sweet Valley Two Fruits
No complaints here other then the serving packs are a bit small but most tub fruit is the same. The fruits were the good ol’ peach and pear and tasted great. At $2.99 for a 4-pack you’re looking at 75c a tub which is good value for money.
The fruits are manufactured in China but should be ok, I haven’t heard of the Chinese stuffing up fruit yet.
Manufactured: China
New Day Dippits
One thing that’s always bugged me about the biscuit + cheese combos is I always want more when I have them. I can easily polish off a whole packet of biscuits if I have enough dip in one sitting so having 3 biscuits + a small amount of cheese spread can be frustrating.
The French Onion cheese dip tasted very chemically in these packs. I could barely taste the french onion and the cheese tasted like melted down super cheap kraft singles or something. I won’t be buying these again.
Cheddar Cheese on the other hand was much more cheesey tasting and actually quite tasty. It wasn’t gourmet cheese but there’s only so much you can expect from cheese that lasts non-refridgerated. The Cheddar flavour is now a staple as my office morning snack.
Manufactured: Australia (from local and imported ingredients)
Bread
Cereal
Drinks
Frozen Foods
Meats
Sauces, Dips & Spreads
Snacks
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