It's the tangy bite-sized snack that pretty much every single household in the country has in their cupboard.
Let's face it, how many times have you opened up a box of Jaffa Cakes with the intentions of only having a few, but then end up finding the box empty?
The correct answer is all the time. Anyone who says they can't demolish an entire box of these tasty sponge cakes is, quite frankly, lying to themselves.
Also, if you didn't whisper "full moon, half moon, total eclipse" with each one because of THAT advert, then you are doing it all wrong.
With their light-as-air sponge, milk chocolate topping and zingy orange jelly, these popular snacks have been delighting snack fans across the country since the 20s.
Not only have they been delighting fans, but they have also been the subject of the hotly debated cake or biscuit argument. Personally, I am in favour for the cake answer, but there is always another day for that debate.
And when it comes to these fancy little snacks that you can eat in one go, there is only brand that is the ultimate king - McVitie's.
Or, are they?
The UK confectionary brand first introduced these tasty tarts back in 1927 and, as the old saying goes, the rest is history. Honestly, I can't remember a time when these tangy treats where not in my cupboard. I even get the big massive tube sized ones at Christmas.
Since then, McVitie's has introduced quite a few unique flavours that has included everything from passionfruit to cherry, but I'm a fan of the classic chocolate orange flavour. And so are quite a few supermarkets who have all tried their hand at their own Jaffa Cakes.
But are they any good and can they live up to the mighty McVitie's?
Well, there was only one way to find out. I visited Asda, Lidl and M&S, where I picked up their own-branded Jaffa Cakes and, after devouring quite a few, I came up with some interesting results.
What Jaffa Cakes did I try?
Jaffa Cakes are one of those snacks that has branched out into various different flavours. Even M&S' own versions have different flavours, such as raspberry and passionfruit.
As tempting as they all are, there is only one flavour that has stood the test of time - the original chocolate orange. Also, chocolate orange is an absolute banging combination, so I know I won't be disappointed.
Now, if you notice something interesting about the prices, then don't worry, as I will get to that later.
These were the Jaffa Cakes I picked up and their prices.
- McVitie's Jaffa Cakes - £1
- Asda Jaffa Cakes - 55p
- M&S Jaffa Cakes - £1.25
- Lidl Tower Gate Jaffa Cakes - 85p
McVitie's
Price: £1 for 10 cakes
Starting out with the O.G of Jaffa Cakes and it was not a disappointment - it never is, if I'm honest.
This little guy may look small but McVitie's iconic little cake has always packed a punch full of flavour.
The sponge is light and the bitter chocolate and sweet orange flavour make just the right tang in your mouth. There's also a decent amount of chocolate on the top of the cake itself.
Overall, this is still an iconic flavour that is going to be hard to beat.
Rating: 5/5
Asda
Price: 55p for 12 cakes
The first supermarket's Jaffa Cakes to go against the original was the popular supermarket chain Asda - so, no pressure on them then.
Honestly, Asda has been surprising shoppers with their own-branded products for quite some time. And at 55p for a pack that contains two extra
So, how does their Jaffa Cakes fare?
My first impression was that they look very similar to McVitie's, but nearly all of the cakes had broken and crumbly chocolate. It was a small thing to notice, but it did annoy me.
After taking a bite, I had a few thoughts. First thing, the chocolate and the orange work really well together for that tang I have come to associate with the cakes. However, the sponge itself wasn't light or air, it was just a bit more on the staler side and that was its downfall for me.
It's not the worst cake I have tried, but it's not enough to overtake McVitie's.
Rating: 2.5/5
M&S
Price: £1.25 for 11 cakes
These weren't just any Jaffa Cakes, they were M&S Jaffa Cakes - I am sorry, I can't resist the joke every single time.
On to the real talk here, though. M&S is the supermarket synonymous with exceptional quality, so I was expecting good things. Also, at 25p more than the original brand, they have set their own expectations here.
So, do they meet the expectations?
The answer is almost.
M&S' little oblong shaped cakes may look peculiar for a Jaffa Cake, but they are so close to McVitie's. The sponge is light and airy and they have a lovely thick layer of chocolate on the top.
The only slight nitpick I had was that the orange jelly inside was slightly lacklustre. You could tell it was orange, but it didn't pack the same zingy punch that McVitie's does. It was also a little on the thinner side, whereas McVitie's, despite being small, is still a decent mouthful.
Overall, not bad, but maybe not fully worth that extra 25p.
Rating: 3/5
Lidl
Price: 85p for 24 cakes
Last up on the Jaffa Cakes test today was everyone's favourite discount supermarket, Lidl. As far as own-branded items go, not many are doing it quite like Lidl.
As for me, they can usually be a hit or a miss. I sometimes find that you get what you pay for.
And that absolutely was not the case this time round.
The sponge? Light as air and was like eating a bouncy cloud. The chocolate? Smooth and evenly coated. The orange jelly? Delightfully tangy and left a little zing in the mouth.
Honestly, everything about this little cake worked well to create that iconic Jaffa Cake flavour and, for such a small cake, they were definitely a little moreish.
The only thing I can criticise about Lidl's Jaffa Cakes is the size, as it was arguably the smallest out of the bunch. However, don't let that fool you, as they certainly packed the iconic flavour that the other's just slightly missed out on.
At jus 83p for a huge pack of 24 cakes, the supermarket continues to live up to their "Lidl on Price, big on quality" motto.
Rating: 5/5
Final thoughts
If you're after a delightfully tasty Jaffa Cake that is similar to the iconic McVitie's, then Lidl's Tower Gate 24 Jaffa Cakes are arguably the answer.
On both price and taste, the budget supermarket's little cakes managed to come up trumps in this taste test. I mean, you're getting over 50% more for almost 20p less. You can't argue with that - or, I certainly couldn't find a reason to.
The real answer is, would I swap my usual McVitie's pack for Lidl's?
Honestly? It's difficult to call. McVitie's Jaffa Cakes are still exceptionally flavourful, but they certainly have some strong competition from Lidl.
M&S's oddly shaped Jaffa Cakes are worth a mention, but I personally found that they didn't justify the extra 25p. I mean, you only get one extra cake compared to McVitie's and they don't measure up in taste.
Asda's were a case of ' you get what you pay for', as their 55p cakes were just a bit on the staler side.
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