A UK consumer has conducted a comprehensive taste test, pitting Aldi's own-brand chocolate bars against the iconic Cadbury range, with a result that has left many shoppers reconsidering their loyalties.
The Palm Oil Factor Driving the Comparison
The experiment was carried out by shopper Bianca Rosina, who is passionately opposed to the use of palm oil in food products. She specifically highlighted that the chocolate from the German discount supermarket is free from this controversial ingredient. In contrast, Cadbury's owner, Mondelēz International, has incorporated palm oil into its recipes in recent years, a move that has drawn significant criticism from environmental campaigners.
"I'm on the hunt for the UK's best chocolate bar," Bianca explained in a TikTok video that detailed her findings. Her review covered several products, including Aldi's Choceur Milk and Fruit and Nut bars, priced at £1.85 for a 200g bar. She also sampled a bar of Milka Alpine Milk alongside Aldi's Dairyfine Milk Chocolate and Dairyfine Wholenut Milk Chocolate.
Aldi's Chocolate Surprises with Quality and Ethics
Bianca was particularly impressed by the specifications of Aldi's offerings. She noted that the Dairyfine bars contain no palm oil and a minimum of 28% cocoa solids, which is notably higher than Cadbury's current minimum of 20%. The Milka bar, at £1.50 for 90g, boasts a minimum of 33% cocoa solids, which she remarked was "nearly as high as Lindt and M&S."
The real revelation came during the tasting. After sampling the Dairyfine Milk Chocolate, Bianca confessed, "I'm very surprised. That's better than Cadbury. That's a really nice bar of chocolate." She added that it didn't leave the gritty or itchy feeling in her throat that she sometimes associates with other chocolates.
Further bolstering the ethical appeal, she pointed out the Rainforest Alliance Certified logo on the Aldi chocolate wrapper, suggesting it supports better conditions for rainforest communities.
The Verdict: A Permanent Switch for Many
Bianca's conclusion was decisive. In a follow-up video, she stated, "I won't be buying Cadbury's chocolate again. I've found a chef's kiss 10 out of 10 alternative. It's affordable, you're getting value for money and as a bonus, it doesn't contain palm oil."
Her viewers echoed this sentiment. One commenter said, "The Fruit and Nut is amazing! Prefer it now over Cadbury," while another praised the "big pieces of nuts." A third user expressed a broader disillusionment, stating Cadbury had put them off buying chocolate altogether.
The environmental context for avoiding palm oil is severe. Research by Greenpeace found that between 2015 and 2017, 22 of Mondelēz's palm oil suppliers destroyed 70,000 hectares of rainforest, with an estimated 1,000 to 5,000 orangutans killed annually in such concessions. In response, Jonathan Horrell, Global Director of Sustainability at Mondelēz International, has previously stated the company's commitment to "driving change in the palm oil sector."
For a growing number of consumers, however, the combination of superior taste, higher cocoa content, ethical certification, and a cleaner ingredient list makes Aldi's chocolate a compelling alternative to a British classic.
