A taste test comparing Cadbury hot chocolate with supermarket own brands has revealed that the iconic brand offers the best balance of flavour and value. While Cadbury's 250g pot costs £3.00 at Tesco, it outperformed cheaper alternatives and even a more expensive option from M&S.
Cadbury: The Gold Standard
Cadbury's hot chocolate delivered as expected, with a finely milled powder that creates a smooth, lump-free drink. The signature chocolate taste is rich and sweet without being sickly. Emilia Randall, the reviewer, noted that even the smell is nostalgic. At £3.00 for 250g, it is not the most expensive option, proving to be a solid choice for both taste and value.
M&S: Rich but Pricey
M&S hot chocolate, at £4.25 for 200g, offers a more mature, indulgent flavour reminiscent of homemade cocoa. However, it has larger sugar particles that can cause a slight crunch, and it does not stir into milk as well as Cadbury's. Despite its rich taste, the higher price and smaller quantity make it less economical.
Asda: Disappointing and Watery
Asda's own-brand hot chocolate, priced at £1.99 for 400g, was described as distinctly watery and overly salty. It had an unpleasant smell and was incredibly lumpy, failing to melt properly into hot water or milk. The reviewer could not recommend it despite the larger quantity.
Tesco: Solid but Not Rivaling Cadbury
Tesco's own brand, also £3.00, offers a chocolaty drink with minimal lumps and good sweetness. However, it has a slight salty after-taste and requires more powder to achieve the same depth of flavour as Cadbury's. While it is better than the cheapest options, it does not truly rival the big name brand.
Sainsbury's: Lacking Flavour
Sainsbury's Stamford Street hot chocolate, at £1.75 for 400g, tasted of very little and had an unpleasant tang. It dissolved slightly better than Asda's but still needed a lot of powder to approach a true hot chocolate flavour. It was marginally better than Asda's but still subpar.
Verdict: Cadbury Wins for Value and Taste
According to Randall, for a classic, indulgent option, M&S is the choice, but Cadbury's offers more bang for the buck. At just £3.00, you get a rich flavour without needing to heap in spoonfuls of powder. The supermarket own brands, while cheaper, failed to match Cadbury's taste and required more product to achieve similar results, making them less economical overall.
