Supermarket Easter Egg Taste Test: Best Budget and Splurge Picks Revealed
With Easter approaching, supermarket shelves are overflowing with chocolate eggs in every shape, size, and price range. The sheer variety can make choosing the perfect egg a daunting task. Is the classic Cadbury option still the best, or are the fancier supermarket own-brand eggs worth the extra cost?
To answer this, we conducted a thorough taste test of Easter eggs from seven major retailers: Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and the perennial favourite, Cadbury. Enlisting the help of a young assistant, we evaluated each egg based on flavour, texture, size, and value for money.
The Contenders: A Detailed Breakdown
Cadbury Mini Eggs Egg – Priced at £3.97 for 181g from Asda (approximately £2.10 per 100g). This classic combination features a hollow Dairy Milk egg and a bag of Mini Eggs. The chocolate, with 23% cocoa solids, delivered the creamy, sweet, and perfectly melting texture Cadbury is known for. The Mini Eggs provided an ideal crunch. However, the bag of eggs felt notably small at just 31.9g. Despite this, it earned a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and stands as the top budget-friendly choice.
M&S Speckled Eggs Egg – Costing £7 for 250g (around £2.80 per 100g). Visually similar to the Cadbury egg, this option included a more generous 50g bag of Speckled Eggs. The chocolate, made with a minimum of 34% cocoa solids, was of high quality, less sweet than Cadbury's, and had a satisfying thickness. The Speckled Eggs were exceptionally crunchy, almost overly so. It received a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Tesco Double Layer Salted Pretzel Chocolate Egg – The most expensive at £14 for 210g (roughly £6.70 per 100g). This limited edition, hand-decorated egg is made from 45% milk chocolate, 38% white chocolate, and 6% pretzel pieces. A significant drawback was the lack of white chocolate mention in the product title. The combination was found to be sickly, with the saltiness of the pretzels clashing unpleasantly with the sweet chocolates. It was deemed poor value and scored only 1 out of 5 stars.
Morrisons Belgian Milk Chocolate with Latte Crunch Egg – Priced at £10 for 240g (approximately £4.20 per 100g). This Belgian chocolate egg, infused with Arabica and Robusta coffee, offered a delicate, creamy latte flavour. The inclusion of feuilletine wafer added a delightful crispy texture. With a pretty leaf pattern and high-quality chocolate, it felt like a sophisticated, adult treat. It earned a perfect 5 out of 5 stars and is the recommended splurge.
Sainsbury's The Caramel One Egg – Costing £10 for 230g (about £4.30 per 100g). This hollow egg was layered with toffee fudge, honeycomb, and shortbread biscuit. The taste was reminiscent of Cadbury Marvellous Creations bars, with varied textures in each bite. However, the overall combination was extremely sweet, limiting its appeal. It received 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Lidl Deluxe Caramelised Biscuit and Milk Chocolate Layered Egg – Priced at £11.99 for 300g (around £4 per 100g). This egg was surprisingly heavy, featuring two layers of chocolate sandwiching a spiced biscuit paste. The filling evoked the flavour of Lotus biscuits, and the chocolate quality was excellent. It was very moreish and scored 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Aldi Dark Chocolate, Coffee and Cocoa Nibs Egg – Costing £4.99 for 170g (approximately £2.90 per 100g). This teardrop-shaped egg contained dark chocolate with a minimum of 54% cocoa solids, 6% cocoa nibs, and 1.5% coffee powder. The combination proved overly bitter and astringent, making it unpleasant. It scored only 1 out of 5 stars.
Final Verdict and Recommendations
The taste test revealed clear winners for different needs. The Cadbury Mini Eggs Egg emerged as the undisputed best budget option. It offers classic, beloved flavours at an affordable price, making it ideal for children and those seeking reliable satisfaction.
For a premium, grown-up treat, the Morrisons Belgian Milk Chocolate with Latte Crunch Egg is the top splurge choice. Its sophisticated coffee infusion and crispy texture provide a delightful indulgence, though it may not appeal to younger palates.
Interestingly, all supermarket own-brand eggs tested were more expensive than the Cadbury classic. The Tesco offering was the priciest and least favoured, while the Aldi dark chocolate egg was also poorly rated due to its bitterness. The Lidl and M&S eggs performed well but were ultimately outshone by the top picks.
This Easter, shoppers can confidently save with Cadbury for a crowd-pleasing treat or splurge on the Morrisons Latte Crunch egg for a special adult indulgence. The results prove that price does not always correlate with pleasure when it comes to seasonal chocolate.
