A comprehensive taste test of Tesco's entire range of flavoured hot cross buns has revealed a clear favourite, just in time for the Easter season. With supermarkets competing to offer innovative twists on classic treats, Tesco has launched an extensive collection this year, featuring flavours from cheese to Neapolitan ice cream.
The Full Flavour Line-Up
Tesco's 2026 hot cross bun lineup includes eight distinct varieties, catering to both traditional and adventurous palates. The selection ranges from extra fruity and double chocolate chip to more unconventional options like cheese and strawberries and cream. A TikTok food reviewer, known as Grumpy Northern Foodie, purchased all eight to conduct a thorough assessment, rating each on a scale from one to ten.
Detailed Ratings and Reviews
The reviewer began with the extra fruity bun from Tesco's Finest collection, describing it as "quite tasty" and a "solid average hot cross bun," awarding it a six out of ten. However, the apple and cinnamon flavour disappointed, with the reviewer noting a lack of apple and cinnamon taste, calling it "pointless" and giving it a low score of two out of ten.
Next, the St Clément's flavour was deemed "way too subtle" and could have benefited from candied orange pieces, earning a five out of ten. In contrast, the triple chocolate bun impressed with its rich, oozing chocolate, rated a solid nine out of ten for being "very tasty" and worth repurchasing.
The cheese hot cross bun surprised positively, outperforming a similar version from Marks & Spencer. The reviewer praised its "proper kick of cheese flavour" and ability to distinguish between cheeses, scoring it eight out of ten. The strawberry and clotted cream bun was rated six out of ten, described as "good" but lacking in cream flavour.
The salted caramel and chocolate bun also scored eight out of ten, with the chocolate carrying the flavour but a noticeable caramel presence. The reviewer highlighted that this combination has been strong across the market this year.
The Unanimous Winner
The final bun, inspired by Neapolitan ice cream, completely captivated the reviewer. He exclaimed that the smell was "unreal" and the taste "amazing," accurately replicating the classic ice cream flavour with every component distinct. Awarding it a perfect ten out of ten, he declared it his favourite of the entire series, making it the clear winner in this Easter taste test.
This review underscores the competitive nature of supermarket Easter offerings, with Tesco's innovative flavours sparking both hits and misses among consumers.
