As the festive season arrives, one of its greatest pleasures is undoubtedly the array of special treats that appear on supermarket shelves. Among the cheese boards, chocolate tubs, and mince pies, the humble yet beloved chocolate biscuit selection box holds a special place. This year, we put four leading supermarket offerings to the ultimate taste test to crown a champion.
The Festive Biscuit Contenders
We gathered selection boxes from four major UK retailers: Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Aldi, and Morrisons. Each box was assessed on taste, texture, variety, presentation, and value for money. Sainsbury's and Asda were omitted as their own-brand versions proved elusive in local stores this December.
The M&S Outrageously Chocolatey box was the priciest at £6.50, a £1 increase from 2024. It promised "more chocolate than biscuit" and contained 12 varieties (24 biscuits total), including milk, dark, white, and a marbled chocolate option.
Tesco's Extremely Chocolatey selection cost £5.25 (£4.50 with a Clubcard). Its festive red packaging was a standout, and inside were 10 varieties totalling 26 biscuits, also featuring milk, dark, and white chocolate.
Aldi's Belmont box was the cheapest at £4.39, but offered only milk chocolate biscuits. It contained nine varieties and 24 biscuits, with a notable double helping of orange cream varieties.
Morrisons presented the steepest price hike, jumping from £4.50 to £6. This year's box, in festive red packaging, contained only milk chocolate biscuits—nine varieties and 25 biscuits in total.
The Taste Test Showdown
To ensure a fair comparison, we focused on three biscuits common to all boxes: the Milk Chocolate Regency, the Viennese Finger, and an orange-flavoured biscuit (though named slightly differently by each retailer).
Milk Chocolate Regency
This ridged classic looked identical across all four. On tasting, M&S scored top marks (5/5) for its smooth chocolate and a subtle, festive spice in the biscuit. Morrisons followed with a 4/5 for its sweet biscuit and generous chocolate layer. Aldi (2/5) had a good crunch but an odd chocolate aftertaste, while Tesco's offering (1/5) was disappointingly bland.
Viennese Fingers
Here, the tables turned. Tesco triumphed with a 5/5 for its soft, shortbread-like biscuit perfectly complemented by smooth chocolate and a chunky drizzle. Morrisons scored 4/5 for sweet chocolate and a good crunch. M&S (3/5) had a delicious spicy biscuit but a disappointingly thin chocolate coat. Aldi (3/5) offered a thicker chocolate layer but a crumbly texture.
Orange-Flavoured Biscuit
In the final round, the citrus creams and sundaes were unwrapped. M&S again led with a 5/5, delivering strong Terry's Chocolate Orange vibes with a sweet, tangy clementine filling. Tesco and Aldi tied at 4/5 for their robust orange flavours. Morrisons, however, scored a mere 1/5, as its biscuit lacked any discernible orange taste.
And The Winner Is...
Collating the scores from all three rounds gave a clear result. Marks & Spencer emerged victorious with 13 points out of a possible 15. Its combination of sophisticated flavours, high-quality chocolate, and variety secured the top spot.
Tesco came a strong second with 11/15, offering excellent value, especially with a Clubcard, and the highest biscuit count. Both Aldi and Morrisons trailed with 9 points each. While Aldi was the budget option, its flavours didn't consistently impress. Morrisons, despite its significant price increase, failed to deliver on taste in key categories.
For those seeking the ultimate festive indulgence, the M&S box is worth the premium. For a more budget-friendly yet tasty alternative with good variety, Tesco's selection is a solid choice. This Christmas, the battle of the biscuits has been decisively won by the high street favourite.
