You’re not imagining it, chocolate selection boxes don’t taste the same

We tried all the classic Christmas chocolates – the best was the cheapest



Posted by theipaper

18 comments

  1. It’s the reality of growing up that [Christmas ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/christmas?ico=in-line_link)magic fades. While your memories brim with nostalgia for glistening lights, full bellies, and the promise of presents, the reality as an adult is [far more expensive](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/never-overspend-christmas-thanks-tip-mum-4074115?ico=in-line_link) and stressful. 

    But it might be a comfort to know that your glowing memories of passing round a box of Quality Street or Roses in front of your TV, gleefully searching for your favourite and popping the delightful choccy into your mouth whole, are not just based on nostalgia. The selection boxes of 2025 really are pale imitations of your childhood memories.

    [Shrinkflation ](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/shrinkflation-years-worse-4007472?ico=in-line_link)in the cost of living crisis has come for all sorts of products over the years, including selection boxes. The changes have been particularly stark this year, as weather conditions affecting global cocoa production have led to a spike in the price of the bean. As a result, the price of chocolate in stores has increased by 15.4 per cent in 2025 to August, according to UK’s cost of living data. And so selection boxes have shrunk, while the price has gone up.

    This has also led to brands [decreasing their cocoa content](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/chocolate-bars-strength-best-buy-3997598?ico=in-line_link) and using other ingredients to try and mimic chocolate, with ingredients being redistributed according to what is cheapest.

    So what can be said of the selection boxes of 2025? Which, if any, are worth the money? Does anything evoke that little crinkly bit of magic or are we all doomed to only eat the chocolate complainingly while lamenting the old days? [A holiday tradition](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/son-spending-christmas-friends-baffled-upset-4090733?ico=in-line_link), sure, but not one you want when you’re drunk and full and just want a little sweetie.

    Which is why, in the interests of journalism, I have pulled together the key players in the selection box business to investigate which one is worth popping in your trolley. And yes, it is weird to be eating these when not in a post-turkey tryptophanic daze, but remember, I’m a professional.

  2. Cocoa is ridiculously expensive at the moment companies are changing the ingredients.

  3. Chocolate shouldn’t be cheap anyway it should be a treat. Fruit should be cheaper than junk food so people naturally gravitate towards fruit

  4. Additionally companies that do shrinkflation should be fined for fraud, or at least have an additional tax on them

    I would set up an independent body that tracks the volume of each of the top 500 shupermarket products and fines the company if they get caught shrinking them

    Jail the board members!

  5. Simples. Don’t buy so called chocolate made by US owned companies… they altered the recipe and now it is doubtful it should be called chocolate at all, as the main ingredients are palm oil and sugar.

    Buy a superior Swiss, French or German product. Less of it (which is good for health reasons) but you’ll do your taste buds a favour. I’d rather have a couple of superb chocolates than a dozen pieces of crap. Personally speaking of course.

  6. Yeh we didn’t need anyone to confirm what we already knew

  7. Well it’s no longer chocolate in the UK – it has to be called chocolate flavour these days.

  8. Because it isn’t chocolate anymore. It wouldn’t surprise me if they start repackaging the not-chocolate you can get for pets and selling that.

    With that said though, it’s still not as bad as vomit bars aka Hershey. How anybody can eat that vile shite is beyond me.

  10. Chocolate in general doesn’t seem to be a quality product anymore, and its definitely not a good value product.

    Time to ditch it for me. Shame.

  12. Just buy quality chocolate over quantity, and stay away from the crappy slop brands like Cadbury and Mars, or anything US-owned.

  13. I’ve altered the recipe. Pray I do not alter it any further.

  14. On the positive side, it makes resisting the urge to buy chocolate a lot easier.

    If I’m going to be consuming that many calories, I want to really enjoy it.

  15. “Shrinkflation from the cost of living crisis”

    Corporate profits from screwing over the consumers.

    FTFY.

  17. Anyone who doesn’t realise by now that mid brand choc has less coco butter, milk etc and more palm oil has been living under a rock 

  18. Also remember most of them have stoped using milk and have started using palm oil.

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