A taste test of pains au chocolat from six supermarkets has found a clear winner, with Marks and Spencer scoring 10/10, while Lidl came in last with 2/10.
Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter, sampled chocolate-filled pastries from Aldi, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Lidl, Waitrose and Marks and Spencer to determine which supermarket produces the finest pain au chocolat. The test was prompted by a desire to find the best version of the buttery, flaky pastry containing two strips of dark cocoa.
Tesco and Sainsbury's results
Tesco's four-pack, priced at £2.10, had appealing colour and decent sizing but was incredibly dry and almost seemed past its best, despite being bought the previous evening. The chocolate filling features a double layer, providing generous amounts. It scored 4/10.
Sainsbury's, also £2.10 for a four-pack, bore striking similarities to Tesco's offering but was marginally thicker with additional pastry layers and lacked the stale quality. It scored 6/10.
Lidl, Waitrose and Aldi results
Lidl's eight-pack, at £1.39, was the cheapest option. However, the flavour bore little resemblance to a pain au chocolat, evoking brioche with a more bread-like consistency and no butteriness, flakiness or layered pastry structure. The individual packaging was appreciated as it prevents the remaining pastries from becoming stale. It scored 2/10.
Waitrose's four-pack, at £2.75, appeared golden and marginally larger than all previous contenders. The texture proved satisfying, with soft, buttery pastry encasing two substantial sticks of dark chocolate, but an unusual aftertaste deterred future purchases. It scored 7/10.
Aldi's eight-pack, at £1.49, was priced just 10p above Lidl's offering. Despite packaging stating they're made in France, tasting revealed limited resemblance to an authentic pain au chocolat, leaning more towards brioche, though marginally superior to Lidl's. It scored 3/10.
Marks and Spencer wins
Marks and Spencer's four-pack, at £3 (75p each), was the most expensive but also the largest of all the pastries sampled. The all-butter pastry delivers a flaky, indulgent exterior that shatters delightfully across your chin with each bite. The authentic French dark chocolate within is thick and substantial, with generous amounts tucked into the centre, ensuring you savour the flavour with every mouthful. It scored 10/10.
