Is this Britain's best Easter egg? VEGAN treat that's free from dairy and gluten beats seasonal favourites in a blind taste test

  • In a blind taste test of 142 Easter eggs Booja-Booja's £24.95 truffles rated highest
  • The egg is made without using any dairy, gluten or soya and suitable for vegans
  • Tesco's own brand budget Easter egg came in second place, costing just £5

Britain's best Easter Egg is made from cardboard... and suitable for vegans.

The Booja-Booja brand 'Easter egg' is actually an egg shaped box, which provides an absolute guarantee that no animals were harmed in its production.

In fact, the key to its success are the 12 award-winning Hazlenut crunch truffles inside, which are proof positive that adopting a vegan lifestyle does not mean giving up on flavour.

The truffles are made from chocolate, coconut oil, hazelnuts and cocoa powder, which means there is no dairy, gluten or soya.

As a result, they can be enjoyed by vegans as well as many of the growing number of Britons who are diagnosed with - or label themselves - as having food allergies.

The blind taste test was carried out by experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute and involved an assessment of some 142 Easter eggs.

Experts from the Good HouseKeeping Institute revealed this year's best Easter egg as Booja-Booja's chocolate truffles (file photo)

Experts from the Good HouseKeeping Institute revealed this year's best Easter egg as Booja-Booja's chocolate truffles (file photo)

The Institute said: 'Booja-Booja has nabbed the highest overall score this Easter, for its gluten, dairy and soya-free offering, which is also suitable for vegans.' 

It said the truffles, which come in at an indulgent £24.95 inside a large and beautifully designed egg shaped box, achieved a top score of 89 out of 100. This was thanks to the 'smooth truffle filling and elegant hand-painted velvet-lined box'.

Good Housekeeping's consumer director, Caroline Bloor, said: 'Seeing a vegan-friendly egg take the crown may come as a surprise to some, but this is why our famous blind tests are more important now than ever before.' 

A more purse friendly egg from Tesco - made entirely from chocolate - came in second with a score of 87.

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny remained popular scoring third overall and best for children (file photo)

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny remained popular scoring third overall and best for children (file photo)

The store's Finest Dark Chocolate Belgian Egg, at just £5, won praise for its 'distinctive blackberry flavour'.

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, which weighs in at a whopping 1kg and £39.99, achieved the top spot in the Kids category. It also came in third overall with a score of 84/100, with tasters commenting on its 'milky, caramel like taste.' The Institute assessed the Easter eggs across eight categories.

Sainsbury's scored top marks in the White Chocolate section, with its Taste the Difference White Chocolate Bunny, at £6, achieving a score of 82. The judges praised its 'meltingly smooth texture'.

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference chocolate bunny rated highest in the white chocolate category (file photo)

Sainsbury's Taste The Difference chocolate bunny rated highest in the white chocolate category (file photo)

Marks & Spencer took the prize in the Showstoppers category for its beautiful Hand Decorated Milk and Dark Chocolate Egg with Dulce de Leche Truffles, at £15.

Judges, who awarded a score of 80, loved its golden stardust centre and its 'dark berry and rich caramel notes'.

Winner of the Milk Chocolate league was the Co-op's Irresistible Single Origin Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate Cocoa Pod, at £7, with a score of 76. Tasters complimented its 'complex vanilla flavours and subtle fruity notes'.

A faux milk chocolate Egg Sandwich from Hotel Chocolat, at £10, won the Novelty category with a score of 78.  

Hotel Chocolat's faux milk chocolate egg sandwich rated highest in the novelty section (file photo)

Hotel Chocolat's faux milk chocolate egg sandwich rated highest in the novelty section (file photo)

BEST FOR KIDS

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, £39.99 

Rated: 84/100 

Lindt's classic Gold Bunny, which weighs a hefty 1kg was nominated first in the Kids category. It also came in third overall as tasters commented on its 'milky, caramel like taste.' 

BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE 

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference White Chocolate Bunny, £6

Rated: 82/100

The judges praised its 'meltingly smooth texture'. 

BEST SHOWSTOPPER

Marks and Spencer Milk and Dark Chocolate Egg with Dulce de Leche Truffles, £15

Rated: 80/10

Judges commented on its golden stardust centre and its 'dark berry and rich caramel notes'.

BEST MILK CHOCOLATE

Co-op's Irresistible Single Origin Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate Cocoa Pod, £7,

Rated: 76/ 100

 Judges complimented its 'complex vanilla flavours and subtle fruity notes'. 

BEST NOVELTY 

Hotel Chocolat's faux milk chocolate Egg Sandwich, £10

Rated: 78/100  

Full results can be found at goodhousekeeping.co.uk 

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