A taste test of pains au chocolat from six supermarkets has crowned Marks and Spencer's version the clear winner, scoring a perfect 10/10, while Tesco and Lidl scored lowest.
The comparison, carried out by Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter, covered Aldi, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Lidl, Waitrose, and Marks and Spencer. The pastries were judged on appearance, texture, and taste, with prices ranging from £1.39 to £3.
Tesco and Sainsbury's: Similar but Different Results
Tesco's four-pack, priced at £2.10, scored 4/10. Although the pastries looked good with a nice colour and good size, they were slightly squished in the packet. Biting into one immediately required water, as they were so dry and almost tasted stale, despite being purchased the evening before tasting. However, the chocolate filling is double-layered, providing plenty of chocolate.
Sainsbury's, also £2.10 for four, scored 6/10. While very similar in appearance to Tesco's, these were slightly thicker with more layers of pastry, and they did not feel stale.
Lidl and Aldi: Brioche-Like and Disappointing
Lidl's eight-pack, at £1.39, was the cheapest of the lot, but scored just 2/10. The taste and texture resembled a brioche, with sweetness present but a more bready consistency, lacking butteryness, flakiness, and pastry layers. The individual packaging was a positive, preventing the rest from going stale.
Aldi's eight-pack, at £1.49, looked identical to Lidl's and similarly resembled a brioche, though surprisingly a little bit better, scoring 3/10. This was disappointing given the packaging proudly declares the pastries are made in France.
Waitrose and M&S: Pricier but Better
Waitrose's four-pack, at £2.75, scored 7/10. The pastries were golden in colour, slightly bigger than the previous ones, with soft and buttery pastry holding two thick sticks of dark chocolate. However, a weird aftertaste put the reporter off repurchasing.
Marks and Spencer's four-pack, at £3 (75p per pastry), scored 10/10. These were easily the biggest of all the pastries tried, made with all-butter pastry that is flaky and rich, crumbling all over the chin when bitten into. The genuine French dark chocolate inside is thick and chunky, with plenty packed into the middle, ensuring a taste on every bite.
