How to find the Christmas chocolates you like best

How to find the Christmas chocolates you like best: Experts reveal how to pick out the best selection boxes to stop families squabbling

  • Consumer experts at Which? analysed big-brand selection boxes to help families
  • They will help families to pick a tub that will make everyone happy at Christmas
  • Sorted treats into various categories – fudges, toffees and caramels, fruit and coffee cremes, solid chocolate, and nuts and praline

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

The nation's favourite chocolates, according to research conducted by iProspectUK (pictured): 1. Maltesers Teaser;  2. Golden Barrel; 3. Galaxy Caramel; 4. Galaxy;  5. Wispa; 6. Dairy Milk Chunk;  7. Twirl; 8. Crunchie Bite;  9. Caramel; 10. Twix; 11. Hazel in Caramel; 12. Signature Truffle; 13. Hazel Whirl; 14. Dairy Milk Caramel; 15. Milky Way; 16. Strawberry Dream; 17. Milk Choc Bloc; 18. Snickers; 19. Mars; 20, The Green Triangle; 21. Fudge; 22. Creme Egg Twisted; 23. Tangy Orange Creme; 24. The Purple One; 25. Double Decker; 26. Bounty; 27. Caramel; 28. Orange Choc Crunch; 29. Strawberry Delight; 30. Cadbury Eclair; 31. Fudge; 32. Country Fudge; 33. Toffee Finger; 34. Chocolate Caramel Brownie; 35. Toffee Penny; 36. Orange Creme; 37. Coconut Eclair

The nation’s favourite chocolates, according to research conducted by iProspectUK (pictured): 1. Maltesers Teaser;  2. Golden Barrel; 3. Galaxy Caramel; 4. Galaxy;  5. Wispa; 6. Dairy Milk Chunk;  7. Twirl; 8. Crunchie Bite;  9. Caramel; 10. Twix; 11. Hazel in Caramel; 12. Signature Truffle; 13. Hazel Whirl; 14. Dairy Milk Caramel; 15. Milky Way; 16. Strawberry Dream; 17. Milk Choc Bloc; 18. Snickers; 19. Mars; 20, The Green Triangle; 21. Fudge; 22. Creme Egg Twisted; 23. Tangy Orange Creme; 24. The Purple One; 25. Double Decker; 26. Bounty; 27. Caramel; 28. Orange Choc Crunch; 29. Strawberry Delight; 30. Cadbury Eclair; 31. Fudge; 32. Country Fudge; 33. Toffee Finger; 34. Chocolate Caramel Brownie; 35. Toffee Penny; 36. Orange Creme; 37. Coconut Eclair

Experts at Which? looked at the contents of five festive chocolate boxes, sorting the treats into various categories – fudges, toffees and caramels, fruit 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.

Heroes has three varieties of caramel and a 31% chance of getting a caramel chocolate

Heroes has three varieties of caramel and a 31% chance of getting a caramel chocolate

Celebrations ​are the UK’s favourite tin, and the best value in terms of chocolate content, with an average tin quantity of 71 chocolates (684g) per tin

Celebrations ​are the UK’s favourite tin, and the best value in terms of chocolate content, with an average tin quantity of 71 chocolates (684g) per tin

Roses came last in a survey of the nation's favourite chocolate

Roses came last in a survey of the nation’s favourite chocolate 

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.’

while​​ Maltesers Teaser ​is by far the UK’s favourite chocolate, there are only eight in the average Celebrations ​​tub

Strawberry Delight

While​​ Maltesers Teaser ​is by far the UK’s favourite chocolate, there are only eight in the average Celebrations ​​tub. But there are nine Strawberry Delights in Quality Street tins, on average 

Researchers counted, sorted and weighed almost 1,300 chocolates (12.9kgs) from the UK’s most popular Christmas tins after asking people what their favourites were in each box. The results revealed the most popular sweets were not among the most abundant

Selection box chocolates: Where does your favourite rank? 

1. Maltesers Teaser, Celebrations

2. Golden Barrel, Roses

3. Galaxy Caramel, Heroes

4. Galaxy, Celebrations 

5. Wispa, Heroes

6. Dairy Milk Chunk, Celebrations

7. Twirl, Heroes

8. Crunchie Bite, Heroes  

9. Caramel, Roses

10. Twix, Celebrations

11. Hazel in Caramel, Roses

12. Signature Truffle, Roses

13.Hazel Whirl, Roses

14. Dairy Milk Caramel, Heroes

15. Milky Way, Celebrations

16. Strawberry Dream, Roses

17. Milk Choc Bloc, Quality Street

18. Snickers, Celebrations

19. Mars, Celebrations 

20. The Green Triangle, Quality Street

21. Fudge, Heroes

22. Creme Egg Twisted, Heroes

23. Tangy Orange Creme, Roses

24. The Purple One, Quality Street

25. Double Decker, Heroes

26. Bounty, Celebrations 

27. Caramel, Quality Street

28. Orange Choc Crunch, Quality Street

29. Strawberry Delight, Quality Street

30. Cadbury Eclair, Heroes

31. Fudge, Quality Street

32. Country Fudge, Roses

33. Toffee Finger, Quality Street

34. Chocolate Caramel Brownie, Quality Street

35. Toffee Penny, Quality Street

36. Orange Creme,Quality Street

37. Coconut Eclair, Quality Street

… and the favourite selection boxes 

1. Celebrations

2. Heroes

3. Quality Street

4. Roses

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