We asked a panel of 100 sweet-toothed tasters to taste and rate After Eights alongside mint chocolate thins from Morrisons and Tesco, and found that both of the supermarket versions were preferred by tasters.
But it might depend on the occasion, and your preference, as there were differences between the three.
Eat well, live better and stay healthy –After Eight vs supermarket rivals
All three products did well, so After Eights aren't a bad choice, but how thick you like your minty middle might be the decider.
Morrisons and Tesco tied for top place, with their slightly gooier mint filling pleasing tasters.
Both are cheaper than After Eights (at full price), with Tesco giving best value for money gram for gram, though you do get fewer in a pack in the budget boxes.
Tesco Dark Chocolate Mint Thins – 77%
£1.25 for 180g (69p per 100g)
Tesco's chocolates scored well across the board - flavour, texture, looks and aroma were all rated highly by our testers.
Nearly 80% thought they had a good colour, and most found that both the sweetness and strength of chocolate flavour hit the spot perfectly.
The majority also liked the minty flavour, texture and quantity of the fondant filling, while 71% said the ratio between the chocolate and fondant was just right.
These chocolates are the cheapest on test and joint best, so are a great choice. Gift-wise, they do have the most basic-looking box though, so you might need to go the extra mile to make them look pretty.
Available from .Morrisons Dark Chocolate Mint Thins – 77%
£1.50 for 180g (83p per 100g)
These chocolate mints were well-liked, with perfectly pitched sweetness levels according to 83% of our tasting panel.
Around 70% were satisfied with the mint flavour and amount of fondant, and the chocolate flavour was also rated well.
Most liked the texture of the fondant filling - neither too firm nor too runny - and thought that the ratio of chocolate to filling was good.
Morrisons' after dinner mints match Tesco for taste, but are a touch pricier. They're still cheaper than After Eights, though, and have a slightly fancier-looking box than Tesco's version.
Available from .After Eight – 71%
£3 for 300g (£1 per 100g)
The big brand put in a decent showing - nearly 80% of tasters said that the ratio of fondant filling to chocolate was perfect. Three-quarters also liked their look, and said they had just the right level of sweetness.
But our panel didn't think the peppermint flavour was as punchy as the cheaper supermarket versions, with 40% finding the mint flavour too weak. Some also found the mint fondant filling too firm for their liking.
It's the only pack to have individual wrappers for each chocolate, which adds to the sense of occasion but also to the amount of waste.
If you like a firmer filling, these could be the one for you, and they are still cheaper than most other boxed chocolates.
Keep an eye out for special offers too, as they do tend to get discounted. For example, we spotted them on offer for £2.50 at Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco (Clubcard / Nectar holders only), which makes them the same price per 100g as Morrisons Mint Thins (83p per 100g).
Available from , , , , , , , , , and .For more chocolatey treats approved by our testing panel, head to , and to discover the supermarket own-labels that beat well-known brands.What’s in an After Eight?
Mint thins typically have a dark chocolate exterior and a centre of creamy mint fondant filling. So unsurprisingly, their main ingredients are sugar and fat.
Morrisons and Tesco both state that they contain a minimum of 50% cocoa solids, while for After Eights the figure is 47%.
After Eights have about a third less fat than Morrisons and Tesco mints, and fewer calories, but they’re more sugary and have less protein and fibre.
One serving is two mints, according to the pack.
Are After Eights vegan?
After Eights are vegetarian rather than vegan because they contain milk.
Morrisons and Tesco mint thins don’t use milk or other animal products in their after dinner mints, so are suitable for vegans.
– from smoked salmon to mince pies, discover all our top-rated picks for Christmas and beyondIs the cocoa from an ethical source?
All three products make a statement on their packaging or website as to the source of the cocoa.
Nestle (makers of After Eights) states that it is working with the Rainforest Alliance to help improve the lives of cocoa farmers and the quality of their product.
Morrisons says that its chocolate ranges are either Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance certified.
Tesco, somewhat cryptically, states that it purchases a volume of cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms equivalent to the volume used in the product.
Other After Eight flavours
A couple of years ago, Nestle flirted with flavour variations on its peppermint classic.
If you're looking for alternative flavours, several supermarkets also sell Turkish Delight thins, including:
Walkers Turkish Delight thins - we taste tested a range of unusual options to find the tastiest ones to tryHow we tested after dinner mints
The chocolates were assessed in October 2023 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume this type of chocolate. The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK.
Each brand of mint fondant chocolate was assessed by 100 people. The panellists rated the taste, texture, aroma and appearance of each brand and told us what they liked and disliked about each one.
The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which brand they were trying. The order in which they tasted the chocolates was fully rotated to avoid any bias. Each panellist had a private booth, so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
The overall score was based on:
These weightings are based on how consumers rank the importance of different attributes of mint fondant chocolate.
Recycling the packaging
The cardboard box and individual chocolate envelopes (for After Eights) are recyclable at home. The outer plastic film can't be recycled.
Prices correct as of 23 November 2023.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/best-after-dinner-mints-after-eights-vs-morrisons-vs-tesco-aytNJ6C2GhFB