I shop at Aldi but always go to Waitrose for one thing

The cost of the weekly shop is sadly getting higher as the months go on. Our money just doesn’t go as far as it used to, especially when it comes to groceries.

So like many other people, I’ve been doing the majority of my supermarket shopping at Aldi over the past few years. I’ve recently found it to be the best value, even compared to Lidl, and the quality of the food is pretty great. But there’s certain things that are worth spending that little bit of extra money on, and this is when a trip to Waitrose is needed.

As much as I would love to do my entire weekly shop at the likes of Waitrose or Marks and Spencer, I simply don’t trust myself to do so. While the price of the basic stuff isn’t too different from the other supermarkets, the treats and premium products are too hard to resist.

But when you find an item that you love and use all the time, it’s definitely worth it. And for me, that product is flaky sea salt – the Maldon brand to be exact.

It’s an absolute kitchen staple and something that I use every day, and while it’s more expensive than your typical salt grinder, the taste is ten times better.

It might sound a bit odd, because salt is salt, but Maldon is different. It’s a gourmet sea salt harvested in the UK town of Maldon, Essex, described as the ‘ultimate finishing salt’ that’s perfect for adding a savoury crunch to all of your favourite meals.

What makes it so unique is that instead of grains, Maldon salt comes in irregular little shapes, and it has a slightly less intense salty flavour than other table salts since it’s minimally processed.

The water to make this salt is drawn from the Blackwater Estuary during spring tides, which is is filtered and then boiled in large pans. Then, as it evaporates, the salt crystals form on the surface.

Unlike your typical salt that forms cubes, Maldon crystals form interesting pyramid shapes, which are so much fun to pick up and crush in your fingertips as you sprinkle it over food.

Another thing that makes Maldon unique – and worth the money – is that it doesn’t just disappear on your tongue when you taste it. The tiny shards pack such a punch that really sticks around.

Although you can use it for the basics of cooking, like salting pasta water or adding some extra flavour to soups, stews and curries, it really comes into its own when you use it as a finishing touch.

Sprinkling the flakes on top of scrambled eggs, salmon, salads and even chocolate chip cookies lends so much flavour without that chemical aftertaste that other salts can sometimes have.

As well as its great taste, you can’t deny that the box looks beautiful too, and instantly makes your kitchen shelves or cupboard look so much better. It’s a real elevated basic, and you can absolutely taste the difference in quality, which is why it’s worth the extra money in my opinion.

Sadly, Aldi has not yet come out with a knockoff version of Maldon, so I have to buy it from other supermarkets when I need to stock up. Most recently I got it from Waitrose for £3, but you can also get it from Asda for £2.84 or Sainsbury’s for £2.85.

Once you try it, there’s genuinely no going back to regular salt, and your dishes will taste better than ever before.