A taste test of rich tea biscuits from UK supermarkets has crowned Tesco's 85p pack the winner, beating the classic McVitie's brand. The Tesco biscuit scored 10/10, while Lidl's 49p pack came bottom of the rankings with 1/10.
Rich teas are a staple in biscuit tins across the UK thanks to their classic, mild taste. The biscuits are ideal for dunking in cups of tea and have remained a favourite for decades. They can often be overlooked by other biscuits filled with chocolate or cream, yet they are much-loved for a reason.
How the biscuits were tested
Biscuits from Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Marks and Spencer, and McVitie's were compared in terms of taste and value. McVitie's is the best-known branded rich tea biscuit, yet many of the UK supermarkets have their own versions.
Lidl's biscuits were light in colour and had a nice texture, but the taste let them down. They were found to be far too bland, even for a rich tea, and left an odd aftertaste. One bite was enough, earning a rating of 1/10.
Mid-table results
Sainsbury's biscuit was too dry. The packet was the smallest among the supermarkets, weighing 200g rather than 300g like the others. It was a firm biscuit, and while it was sweet, it was far too dry to enjoy, scoring 5/10.
Aldi's rich tea biscuits were darker in colour and tasted similar to McVitie's. They had a much firmer texture and a distinct crunch when bitten. While the taste was correct, the texture let it down, as the firmness made it harder to chew and digest. It received 7/10.
Top marks
Marks and Spencer's biscuit came tied with McVitie's. It had a pleasant texture and tasted light, delicate and even slightly creamy, scoring 9/10. McVitie's, priced at £1.85 from Sainsbury's, had a nice crunch that wasn't too firm and crumbled well in the mouth. Its texture was smooth and tasted comforting, also scoring 9/10.
At the top of the rankings came Tesco. While it seemed impossible to beat the brand, Tesco's rich tea biscuits were so smooth, light and sweet that they took the crown. It is a lighter-coloured biscuit with an enjoyable, crumbly texture and creamy, delicate aftertaste. The biscuits are perfect for dunking in tea, making them the winner with a rating of 10/10.
