I think this year we should be looking for quality and a ‘less is more’ philosophy when it comes to consumables at Easter.
If you stop to look at the ingredients lists on some of the major brands of chocolate, you will be horrified.
So I’ve done some research for you to enable you to find a good selection of products with quality ingredients, so that we can avoid ‘nasties’ like palm oil, seed oils and some of the other rather weird ingredients found in so much of our food.
Italian Quality
First of all, let’s look at Easter chocolate and eggs. Venchi (which has a shop in Richmond) prides itself on creating masterpieces from top ingredients and Italian raw materials.
It has its BLOOMING WONDER collection that boasts a range of premium chocolate eggs and gift boxes featuring whole Mediterranean pistachios and Piedmont Hazelnuts.
This cute little gift tin contains two-flavour dark hazelnut and white salted chocolate eggs with pistachios and almonds, finished with Piedmont hazelnuts.
£12.50 instore or at www.ukvenchi.com
Belgian Quality with International Ethical Ingredients
Pierre Marcolini is a pioneer of the Bean-to-bar movement, and enjoys an excellent reputation for buying its raw materials directly and ethically from independent cocoa producers in Cuba, Indonesia, India, São Tomé and Príncipe, Peru, Venezuela, Madagascar and China.
The Pierre Marcolini Easter 2025 collection includes a range of lovely chocolates and eggs ranging in price from £12.90 to £159 if you really want to push the boat out.
But I rather like this elegant small coloured box in the shape of an Easter egg, filled with several of his creations.
It contains an assortment of 11 chocolates including: almond-hazelnut praline eggs; small caramel and praline rabbits, and Easter bells.
It costs £16.90 and is available from the company’s London stores or online from marcolini.co.uk
Top Choc from British Company
British company Chococo has long been a favourite of mine.
This year you can discover golden eggs inside this delicious, new Nest egg. In Chococo’s unique faceted egg shape, it’s handcrafted with their award-winning signature 47% Colombia milk chocolate, studded inside with new Colombia origin ‘blonde’ caramel white chocolate mini eggs and hand decorated with bronze shimmer speckles.
Presented in a stylish patterned, plastic-free box that really stands out this Easter. Nest Egg (£16.50/175g)
Supermarket Top Marks for Tesco
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Tesco Finest chocolate eggs are made with tip top ingredients.
There’s an added bonus at the moment in that Clubcard holders can buy them for half price (£6 down from £12…a bargain!)
The eggs are made with expertly sourced rich cocoa beans from Cote d’Ivoire in support of Rainforest Alliance certified farms and contribute to improving the livelihood of farmers through the Transparence Cacao programme. The Rainforest Alliance seal stands for a better future for people and nature.
The eggs are dark chocolate and there is a dark chocolate and orange hollow egg or a dark milk chocolate one.
Both are 228g and made with high quality, more sustainably sourced cocoa and neither contains any ‘nasties’.
Walk on the Wild Side with Liquorice
Liquorice sparks strong opinions, but LAKRIDS BY BÜLOW is on a mission to convert liquorice haters with its gourmet Danish creations.
Defying tradition and typical chocolate eggs found at Easter time, the standard Easter flavours are Crunchy Toffee or Crispy Caramel.
But this year sees a new addition: appropriately named for Easter is Passion Fruit. These combine white chocolate with vibrant passion fruit and liquorice in just one juicy bite.
All the flavours are available in regular jars, as well as these beautiful ÆGGS, which now come in special illustrated stands featuring a magical spring wonderland.
A 480g egg is £24.95 available online, and in-store at John Lewis, Selfridges, Fenwick, and at the new stores in Canary Wharf and Monmouth Street.
Spread some Easter Love with this Honey
But what if you don’t want to give an Easter egg? How about some delicious artisan, organic honey?
Honey Heaven has the perfect product for Easter – Organic Honey with Raw Cacao – an indulgent alternative to traditional chocolate spreads that’s delicious and nutritious. It’s made using organic unprocessed wildflower honey from Hungary, and natural raw cacao powder from South America, is 100% natural, organic, free from artificial additives and preservatives, and contains neither palm oil nor refined sugars: a guilt free treat.
Honey Heaven’s Organic Honey with Raw Cacao combines the thick, velvety richness of raw cacao with nature’s creamy, golden sweetener, delivering two superfoods, also a natural source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to support well-being and the body’s natural defences.
It’s delicious, and can be swirled into porridge, drizzled over desserts, stirred into coffee for a natural mocha taste, be used as a dip for fruit, or simply try licking a spoonful for a moment of pure decadent pleasure!
Available from www.honeyheaven.co.uk, a 300g jar of Organic Honey with Raw Cacao is around £12.00.
Cheese and Chocolate – a Delicious Gift
Hampers are always a lovely surprise for the recipient, and I think this idea from Snowdonia Cheese is fabulous.
Created in collaboration with the artisan chocolate maker Willie’s Cacao, this cheese and chocolate tasting experience is perfect for sharing with friends at Easter.
Presented in a smart gift basket are four award-winning Snowdonia cheeses – Black Bomber, Red Storm, Green Thunder and Red Devil Leicester – and four single-estate chocolate bars, handpicked as unexpectedly delicious flavour pairings.
There’s also a cheese and chocolate tasting guide to walk you through each one.
£45 for a basket hamper including a slate cheeseboard, this is a fun and memorable Easter gift for a family (or serious foodie). www.snowdoniacheese.co.uk
Egg-stra Special Choccy Hamper
If a more traditional hamper is more to your taste, then how about Hampers.com’s Easter Egg Gift Box?
The ultimate treat for chocoholics. Packed with artisan delights, this selection is guaranteed to make this Easter egg-stra special!
At the heart of this luxurious lineup is the Monty Bojangles Flutter Scotch Easter egg, elegantly housed in a reusable keepsake tin, and featuring show-stopping butterscotch truffles hidden inside.
But that’s not all! They’ve also included a mix of mini eggs, a mini egg white chocolate shortbread, and even more mouthwatering surprises.
All of these sweet treats are packed in a signature gift box: an egg-ceptional Easter treat. £40
