Cadbury’s beloved treats inspired many imitations over the years, but it’s time to see if they can live up to the original, or even outdo it, in this special taste test
Mini eggs, the beloved Easter treat of solid milk chocolate with a candy shell, have been an iconic part of Easter celebrations worldwide since Cadbury introduced them in 1967. These little sweets, heralded by the same company that brought us the famous Creme Egg, have seen their price climb over the years.
As of March 2024, what used to be £1.20 for an 80g bag at Tesco with a Clubcard now rings in at £1.65 on a Clubcard deal – that’s a significant 37.5% increase. Yet, the price bump hasn’t put a dampener on the allure of Cadbury Mini Eggs which are available throughout the year in Britain.
Major supermarkets have even tried their hand at producing similar speckled candies, often at a more pocket-friendly price than the original. To judge if any could measure up to the Cadbury classic, we conducted an intriguing taste test and the results were quite unexpected.
The anonymous taste test was centred on the eggs’ flavour, texture and size, keeping prices and retailers out of sight to avoid bias among the five friends who eagerly participated in sampling these chocolaty delights, reports the Express.
From this chocolate showdown, it became apparent that the designs remarkably differed – some mini eggs bore a richer hue, others adorned more prominent speckles, and there was notable variance in size across the various brands.
In terms of taste, two eggs really hit the mark with distinctive and enjoyable flavours reminiscent of Nesquik chocolate milkshake powder and M&Ms. However, one supermarket variant missed the spot entirely, condemned for its “cheap chocolate flavour”.
Lidl’s Easter spread includes the delightful Mister Choc Mini Eggs, priced at just £1.25 for an 80g bag, earning a score of 5/10.
While the budget store’s little chocolate eggs charmed with their pretty pastel colours and impeccable shape, outshining the other four candidates in looks, the chocolate itself received mixed reviews due to its “strange” taste. However, the candy shell was lauded for its “beautiful crunch” missing in rival offerings.
If you’re cruising the aisles of Lidl and craving something sweet, this more affordable choice – 60p less than Cadbury Mini Eggs – might be worth popping into your basket, even though testers felt they didn’t quite reached the benchmark set by the original inspiration.
Over at Aldi, the Dairyfine Mini Chocolate Eggs, yours for £1.25 (80g), could tempt those in the hunt for a bite-sized, chocolatey snack with a bit of crunch. Distinguished by a pointier shape compared to Cadbury’s iconic round mini eggs, these pastel goodies certainly catch the eye.
Taste testers found the flavour to be simply “OK”, critiquing the soft candy shell which fell short on delivering that sought-after crisp texture. With not much to set it apart from the chocolate or the rival at Lidl in taste, these Dairyfine treats didn’t manage to edge ahead.
Sainsbury’s is tempting shoppers with 80g bags of Speckled Mini Eggs for £1.50, which have been a hit with taste testers and compared favourably to the flavour of M&M’s chocolate. However, these eggs are notably tinier than their counterparts in this comparison and have drawn some flak for their “artificial” colours, which stand out with more intensity than the softer pastel shades of other brands.
Taste testers were enamoured with the chocolatey goodness, despite the shells being on the thinner side; they still delivered a satisfying crunch. These eggs emerged as one of the top contenders, bagging an impressive score of 8.5 out of 10.
Morrisons didn’t fare quite as well, scoring a meagre 2/10 for their Mini Speckled Milk Chocolate Eggs (£1.25 for 80g), which were criticised for tasting more sugary than rich in cocoa.
Visually, the eggs appeared somewhat lacklustre, sporting a “washed” look. The aroma was less chocolatey compared to others and the shell was criticised for being too thin and lacking the desired crunch.
However, it wasn’t all bad news at Morrisons; its Mini Milk Chocolate Orange Eggs (£1.25 for 80g) were a different story altogether. Not included in the main mini eggs comparison, these treats boasted a delightful mix of orange and chocolate flavours that were quickly gobbled up by the taste testers.
Cadbury: 6.5/10
The Cadbury Mini Eggs (£1.85 for 80g) really wowed the judges with their tidy shape and charming speckled pastel shells. The candy shells were praised for their satisfying crunch, while the chocolate centre was noted for its rich cocoa taste, which some tasters compared to chocolate milkshake powder.
Yet, opinions were split, as one critic labelled the flavour “awful” and “powdery”, and another gave the eggs a dismal score of one due to their overly sweet scent. On the flip side, many found the aroma of Cadbury Mini Eggs delightful and temptingly moreish, as evidenced by an empty cup at the end of the tasting session.
And the winner is…
When it came to the best overall mini eggs, Sainsbury’s emerged as the clear winner in this taste test, thanks to its delicious flavour that won over the testers. These supermarket eggs are 35p less per bag than Cadbury’s and their petite size creates the impression of getting more eggs for your cash (even though both bags weigh the same at 80g).
Sainsbury’s packaging is also notably more streamlined compared to Cadbury’s, which features a surplus of plastic at the top where the eggs are nestled.
Aldi and Lidl also scored decently as budget-friendly options, priced at £1.25 per bag, saving shoppers 60p compared to Cadbury Mini Eggs. Nevertheless, Cadbury’s original treat continues to be a beloved classic, instantly recognisable even in a blind taste test.