A blind taste test of supermarket Easter eggs has crowned Sainsbury's as the top choice, outperforming more expensive premium brands. The winning egg, a Fairtrade-certified 65% dark chocolate egg with Valencian orange oil and freeze-dried orange pieces, was praised for its sophisticated, decadent flavour and silky texture.
The test, conducted by a food critic, evaluated eggs on quality, transparency, and flavour. The Sainsbury's egg, despite comical packaging, was described as 'utterly delicious' and 'dangerously moreish'. It contains 34.1% sugar and a preservative (sulphur dioxide) common in dried fruit.
Other top-rated eggs included M&S's 64% dark chocolate egg with salted white chocolate and truffle, praised as a 'best splurge' for its size and price. Waitrose's Belgian dark chocolate egg and Co-op's hazelnut praline egg also scored highly. However, many eggs contained palm oil or high sugar levels, with Lindt's classic egg having the highest sugar content at 55%.
The test highlighted the importance of certifications like Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance, which ensure ethical and environmental standards. While premium brands like Hotel Chocolat and Ferrero Rocher have their own sustainability programmes, they lacked third-party certification. The Sainsbury's egg, at a lower price point, proved that quality and ethics can be affordable.
