Chocolate digestives are a British classic, but can a cheaper supermarket alternative taste just as good as McVitie’s original? I put five supermarket versions to the test to find out
One supermarket biscuit was just as good as the original(Image: Emily Malia)
Whether dunked in a steaming mug of tea, laid out as part of a biscuit assortment, or guiltlessly devoured straight from the packet — chocolate digestives remain one of the nation’s most beloved sweet treats.
While McVitie’s may well be the gold standard when it comes to milk chocolate digestives, supermarkets have long been producing their own versions, frequently undercutting the iconic brand on price by a considerable margin.
Which begs the question — is there a more affordable alternative out there that genuinely rivals McVitie’s in taste?
To find out, I put the theory to the test by purchasing supermarket own-brand versions from five different retailers.
I sampled milk chocolate digestives from Sainsbury’s, M&S, Asda, Lidl and Morrisons, rating each one out of five stars to determine which came out on top. The results, I must say, genuinely surprised me — and may well have altered my biscuit-buying habits for good, reports Wales Online.
A packet of McVitie’s Milk Chocolate Digestives is currently priced at around £1.85, yet I uncovered a version every bit as satisfying for 60p less.
Sainsbury’s – £1.25
Noticeably smaller than their McVitie’s counterpart, with roughly 20 biscuits per pack, these had a harder, less satisfying crunch and a rather underwhelming flavour. The chocolate coating, too, left something to be desired — tasting more milky than chocolatey.
Not an unpleasant biscuit by any means, but not one I’d find myself reaching for again in a hurry.
3/5.
Morrisons – £1.20
Identical in size to a standard digestive and featuring the iconic pressed lettering, this came about as close to a McVitie’s digestive as one could reasonably expect. It shares that same texture with what can only be described as a ‘bitty’ quality that sets a digestive apart from other plain biscuits.
The chocolate delivers noticeably more flavour compared to several of the other contenders, and the whole pack would have been gone in no time.
5/5.
M&S – £1.25
From the very first bite, the biscuit was noticeably crunchier in texture than an original digestive. While the chocolate came closest in taste to the McVitie’s version, the firmness and coarseness of the biscuit felt more reminiscent of a Hobnob than a digestive.
They’re certainly a pleasant enough choice, but for anyone seeking a faithful replica of the original, this falls short.
3/5.
Lidl – 89p
In terms of packaging, Lidl has nailed it, with its milk chocolate digestives bearing a striking resemblance to McVitie’s on the supermarket shelf. Generously sized, this biscuit boasts a considerably thicker layer of chocolate than any of the other supermarket rivals.
The biscuit itself, however, is far blander in flavour, while the chocolate feels overwhelming, delivering what can only be described as a ‘cheap chocolate’ taste in the most unmistakable sense. It simply doesn’t measure up.
2/5.
Asda – £1.25
The biscuit’s size was spot-on when measured against the genuine digestives, and visually it’s an excellent imitation, boasting that distinctive darker biscuit hue. I was let down to discover the chocolate coating was noticeably thinner than most of its rivals, yet the biscuit itself tasted remarkably similar to McVitie’s.
It delivers the same lingering aftertaste found in the original and is certainly a worthwhile budget-friendly option if you can overlook the slightly stingy chocolate layer.
4/5.
