We tried six supermarket chocolate coins in a blind taste test to find out if there's really a difference between them – and discover which is best.
Chocolate coins might be an essential part of Christmas, but they don't have a reputation for quality. Yet while everyone might secretly think they're a bit rubbish, somehow they remain a much-loved tradition, stuffed into stockings across the country every year.
This year, in a highly scientific experiment, we decided to recruit twenty testers and pit six supermarket brands against each other in a blind taste test.
The winner might have scored just 3.5 out of 5, but on Christmas Day, once the turkey, roast potatoes and Christmas pudding are finished, you'll still find us on the sofa, keenly peeling off the gold foil and asking: "Are there any more chocolate coins left?".
6. Co-op
Some of our blind testers liked the overly sweet flavour, reminiscent of sugary American chocolate, while others found it synthetic. We all agreed that the grainy, crumbly texture wasn't ideal and didn't feel particularly pleasant on the palate.
Rating: 2/5
loveFOOD
4=. Sainsbury's
The Sainsbury's coins were deliciously sweet and had a strong cocoa flavour, but our testers thought the texture was all wrong. They were quite chewy and didn't melt in the mouth.
Rating: 2.5/5
loveFOOD
4=. Asda
Most of us enjoyed the soft and squidgy texture of Asda's chocolate coins. Where did they go wrong? We found these coins were very bland – and although we never thought we'd have to say it, they just weren't sweet enough.
Rating: 2.5/5
loveFOOD
2=. Marks & Spencer
The chocolate coins from Marks & Spencer had a pleasantly smooth, creamy texture, however, most testers noted that the coins were extremely sugary, which almost completely overpowered the chocolate.
Rating: 3/5
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2=. Tesco
We really loved the balance of sweetness in Tesco's coins – they weren't too sickly and had pleasing caramel undertones – and the smooth texture. Some of our testers weren't convinced by the aftertaste and said it was slightly synthetic.
Rating: 3/5
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1. Waitrose
The Waitrose chocolate coins – harder and thicker than the others – came out on top. Their flavour lingered on the palate and they had a smooth texture that stood out from the rest. If you buy one pack of chocolate coins this year, make it this one.
Rating: 3.5/5
loveFOOD