How to get Xmas chocs you like best
‘There’s a tub for everyone’
It’s the same story every Christmas.
the big tub of chocolates lies almost empty, with just the unwanted coffee and strawberry cremes left at the bottom among the discarded wrappers.
Meanwhile, the favourites have been quickly snaffled and a child is in tears having failed to grab the last fudge or toffee penny.
But now consumer experts have analysed big-brand selection boxes to help families pick out a tub that will make everyone happy. Experts at Which? looked at the contents of five festive chocolate boxes, sorting the treats into various categories – fudges, toffees and caramels, fruits and coffee cremes, solid chocolate, and nuts and praline. It counted the number of each chocolate category that came in Nestle Quality street, Cadbury Roses, M&s Big selection, sainsbury’s Chocolate treats and Waitrose Christmas Chocolate Favourites. the study found that Cadbury Roses are the best choice for fans of nuts and praline, with over a quarter (28 per cent) of the box made up of nut-filled chocolates. But if – as is often the case – you have a real problem with fruit and coffee cremes, then you might want to steer clear of Quality street, which has over a third (38 per cent) of the contents of a tin falling into this category.
some people, however, consider these their favourite, and Quality street also has the most solid chocolate pieces, which are highly prized by many.
M&s topped the list for fudge lovers, with half (51 per cent) of the M&s Big selection being either fudge or caramel.
the same study found that, pound for pound, Quality street and sainsbury’s Chocolate treats were the cheapest. Both weighed in at 650g and cost £3.50 or 54p per 100g.
On the other hand, Waitrose Christmas Chocolate Favourites were the most expensive tubs at £6 for 600g – £1 per 100g.
Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at Which?, said: ‘When the chocolate boxes come out, it’s a clear sign that Christmas is just around the corner. Our analysis reveals that whatever your tastes, there’s a chocolate tub for you.
‘Families can use our research to make sure you spend your money on one that will bring you the most joy this Christmas.’