'I tested chocolate from every supermarket and this £1 bar is better than Cadbury'
For those who still want to indulge their sweet tooth without the expense, then a simple bar of chocolate poses a suitable alternative - and pretty much everyone knows that Cadbury remains one of the most beloved brands.
That being said, many supermarket own brands can sometimes pose a more affordable, and often better tasting, option. Which is exactly why one reporter decided to try them all out to find if this was the case.
Senior Lifestyle Reporter Angela Patrone from the Express recently pit the iconic chocolate brand against high-end and bargain supermarket options, with bars bought from the likes of Aldi, Lidl, M&S, Waitrose and more.
Finding one budget bar that reminded her of the beloved Magic Stars from her childhood, the reporter detailed her thought on each confection, which we have provided in her full words just below.
Morrisons
Retailing for 80p, this tasted like your standard run-of-the-mill chocolate bar, slightly sweet and creamy, but nothing special.
The smooth texture was delightful, but sadly, the chocolate didn't build on that with no memorable taste notes or even an aftertaste.
Rating: 5/10
Sainsbury's
This chocolate bar was much nicer than Morrisons' and melted in the mouth much more easily.
The 75p bar also had a lovely taste, which was not too artificial like some chocolates can be.
Rating: 6/10
Tesco
This 55p chocolate bar from Tesco reminds me of cooking chocolate, and not in a good way.
The chocolate from Tesco tasted like it was trying to imitate a mix of Galaxy and Dairy Milk, but very poorly.
It has a chemical undertaste and melts quickly into a thin layer of chocolate rather than oozy goodness.
Rating: 3/10
Aldi
Aldi is known for its affordable items that won't put a hole in your wallet. Aldi has its Everyday Essentials range, which is supposedly cheaper than its other manufactured brands.
Costing 59p for a 100g bar, the taste was very disappointing. It was rather salty and had a strange aftertaste to it. I felt it didn't really taste like chocolate, but as if it were some overly sweetened candy.
Rating: 3/10
Lidl
After tasting the Aldi chocolate bar, I didn't have much hope for this one, but it impressed me massively.
Lidl is known for its cheap products, so it was the first place on my mind when I thought about an affordable chocolate bar. Slightly more than Aldi, the bar cost me £1.09, weighing 100g.
In terms of taste and quality, it really took me by surprise. It was sweet, smooth, and the chocolate melted in my mouth. It brought me back to my childhood as it reminded me so much of Magic Stars. I would say it was better than Cadbury in terms of taste and value.
Rating: 9/10
Asda
For me, the Asda chocolate bar is on par with Tesco and Aldi, just ever so slightly better.
Coming in at 59p per 100g, the chocolate bar was sweet, but it didn't melt in the mouth like a typical chocolate bar would.
Rating: 3.5/10
Waitrose
Costing £2.75, this was one of the most expensive chocolate bars in this taste test, but also ended up being the worst one.
While I can appreciate the thick and smooth texture it had, it tasted very strong, and not in a good way.
Rating: 2/10
M&S
M&S was the last of the supermarket brands, and I had high expectations for this one.
M&S have a range of delicious chocolate sweet treats all year round that receive glowing reviews, however, their cheapest milk chocolate is not something I'd repurchase.
Retailing at £2.75 like the Waitrose chocolate bar, it lacked that sweetness and creaminess you'd expect from a milk chocolate bar.
Rating 4/10
Cadbury
Last up we have Cadbury. Straight away you are hit with a waft of chocolate to the nostrils when you open up the bar.
Milk chocolate often contains a fatty coating in the harder centre, which Cadbury often perfects, but how would the iconic brand fare this time around? Very well is the answer; however, for me, it was a little too sweet.
Rating: 8/10
Verdict
Out of all the chocolate bars, Lidl came up as the top contender. Whilst the Cadbury bar was enjoyable, the Lidl chocolate bar just had the edge.
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