The festive season is almost upon us, meaning tins of Quality Street and Roses are beginning to line supermarket aisles.
When it comes to tins of chocolate, however, we sometimes feel cheated if there’s not enough of our favourite type included (we’re looking at you, purple Quality Street).
One Twitter and Facebook user, aptly called Inequality Street, decided to analyse the contents of a tin of Quality Street and Roses to compare the two.
In the tin of Quality Street, they found quite a few strawberry delights, caramel swirls and toffee pennies. However, it seemed Quality Street was a little more stingy on the purple sweets and the green triangles, including just four each in a big 800g tin.
Commenting on their findings, they wrote: “On first viewing it definitely appears to be a case of Quality Street by name, Inequality Street by nature with a whopping disparity of 12 Caramel Swirls (14.3%) to a measly 4 Green Triangles (4.8%).
“Delve a little deeper and the picture is even more bleak for the delicious 3-sided featherweight: Weighing in at just 8.2g each, their 32.8g contribution to the tin represents an even more paltry 4.1% of the overall 800g tin - Hang your heads in shame, Quality Street!”
A disparity of 12 Caramel Swirls (14.3%) to 4 Green Triangles (4.8%). Delve deeper and the picture is bleak. Weighing in at just 8.2g each, their 32.8g contribution to the tin represents an even more paltry 4.1% of the overall 800g tin - Hang your heads in shame, Quality Street. pic.twitter.com/uKRO690sTr
— Inequality Street (@InequalitySt) November 27, 2021
Several others verified the sleuth’s findings:
More data - is anyone doing a range analysis? pic.twitter.com/8Sn4M113wv
— jill readings (@mrsreadings) November 28, 2021
Verifying pic.twitter.com/omJbgpjpmG
— Ann M (@itszenita) November 28, 2021
But what about Roses?
“Over at Cadbury’s the world is fairer,” the auditor said.
They found a fairly equal amount of each chocolate in the tin, with signature truffles and hazel whirls being the most scarce (seven of each). The most plentiful sweets in the Roses tin were the golden barrels and caramel sweets (10 each).
Over at Cadburys the world is fairer. A top to bottom spread of 10 Golden Barrels & 10 Caramels (13.2% each) to 7 Signature Truffles (9.2%). A shout out to the folks at Bournville for the fact that their 800g tin is Christmas-Tree-Busting 818g when you include the wrappers. pic.twitter.com/8WV41rU599
— Inequality Street (@InequalitySt) November 27, 2021
The researcher said Cadbury’s seems “more democratic” due to the “top to bottom spread of 10 Golden Barrels and 10 Caramels (13.2% each) to 7 Signature Truffles (9.2%).”
They added: “An honourable mention to the folks at Bournville for the fact that their 800g tin is Christmas-Tree-Busting 818g when you include the wrappers (yes, Quality St include the wrappers in their 800g). Quality St could’ve given us an extra 2 Green Triangles if they had been a bit more generous with their accounts.”
On their chocolate-auditing Facebook group, members of the public can write in to contribute their findings to the pool of very important research.
Worryingly, it seems that most tins of Quality Street only have four green triangles (unless you create your own unique box):
We must do more to work together to raise the plight of the green triangle. #inequalitystreet pic.twitter.com/CB4jGbtAbh
— Inequality Street (@InequalitySt) November 28, 2021
Genius. https://t.co/dYGY1uJfME
— Inequality Street (@InequalitySt) November 27, 2021
People have also shared their verdicts on other types of chocolate, such as Celebrations.
In a shock turnout, Milky Way take the lion’s share here. We had believed bounty were the ultimate filler until today. pic.twitter.com/wunu2FfeKh
— Inequality Street (@InequalitySt) November 27, 2021
Morning.
— Rick (@DieBadRobotsDie) December 19, 2020
Here is the Definitive Celebrations Choc Scale.#DCCS pic.twitter.com/HaQ11BuFrT
The account seemingly drew inspiration from ITV News’s Stephen Hull, who completed his analysis of a Quality Street tin two weeks ago.
His findings are similar to Inequality street, with - you guessed it - just four green triangles found in Stephen’s tin.
Just audited the 2021 tin of Quality Street. It’s not good news. % of orange ones up (13.18% v 12.9% last year), coconut up, strawberry up. Green triangle down! It’s a small mercy there were 6 more in the tin and a few more purples. Full details attached #inequalitystreet2021 pic.twitter.com/D6DziEq99n
— Stephen HULL (@stephenbhull) November 14, 2021
In a statement to indy100, a Nestlé spokeswoman explained the makeup of a tin of Quality Street: “We balance our Quality Street selection by grouping the sweets into three categories that we know our consumers love: fruits; toffees and fudge; and nuts, chocolates and caramels, with each making up roughly one-third of the total.
“We know that Quality Street fans feel very passionately about their own particular favourites, so we ensure there is something for everyone within the mix.
“Consumers also have the option to create their own mix – such as a tin that’s packed with nothing but Green Triangles, by visiting our website – www.qualitystreet.co.uk.”
This isn’t the first time in recent weeks that Christmas sweeties have grabbed headlines. Just a few weeks ago, debate was sparked on Twitter after it was announced that a “Bounty return scheme” will be launched by Celebrations after a poll found it was the least popular chocolate.
Indy100 has also contacted Cadbury’s for comment.
