Best lemon curd taste test

What is lemon curd?

A mixture of lemon juice, sugar, egg yolks and butter that's slowly heated until thickened, then cooled to make a smooth, glossy, rich condiment. It usually has a sharp, citrussy flavour, and can also be made with other citrus fruits, such as lime or grapefruit. Fold into whipped cream and layer with blueberries and meringues for an easy dessert, or make your own and spoon over buttered crumpets using our easy lemon curd recipe.

How we tasted

We tried the curds on their own to check the balance of lemon and sugar, also checking for consistency and texture.

The results of the best lemon curd taste test

Winner: Tiptree lemon curd, £2.50 (312g), Ocado

Score: 9/10

One of the softer lemon curds we tried, with a really homemade flavour. It's full of citrus punch, but has an intense, creamy aftertaste – it’s made with egg yolks along with whole free-range eggs for extra richness. Perfect for spooning over sponges, using in trifles or spreading over toast. Hits a great balance of sweet and sharp.

Mackays lemon curd, £3.99 (340g), Amazon

Score: 8/10

A really smooth, creamy curd with lots of butteriness and richness on the finish, a juicy lemon flavour and no bitterness. It’s very thick in texture, so we would spread this over buttered crumpets or swirl into cream for a zesty pudding.

Roots & Wings organic lemon curd, £3.35 (300g), Ocado

Score: 8/10

A thick curd with a caramel-like texture – it's the darkest in colour of the curds we tried. It’s very creamy, made with Sicilian lemons for natural sweetness and has lots of juiciness that cuts through the sugar. There’s a lovely balance to this very rich-tasting curd.

Stokes lemon curd, £3.45 (315g), Ocado

Score: 7/10

Very thick in texture and pithy in flavour, the bitterness balances with the sugar well. Made with free-range eggs, this is a very zesty curd, with more bitterness and zest than the others. Great for baking or using in sweeter desserts, such as pavlovas or eton mess.

Bonne Maman lemon curd, £2.60 (360g), Sainsbury's

Score: is 6/10

This is very smooth, with a drizzling consistency. Slightly sweeter than the other lemon curds we tried and not as creamy as some, but still with a smooth, glossy texture and zesty finish.

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