There’s no denying that one of the best parts of Christmas is the abundance of festive snacks and sweet treats. It’s a time for indulgence, and I fully intend to make the most of it.
As we approach December, numerous brands and shops are launching their Christmas-themed chocolate products, and this year is no exception. The renowned Swiss company Lindt, famous for its high-quality chocolate made from the finest ingredients, is a favourite among many.
Most people can expect to find at least one box of their incredibly popular Lindor truffles, available in a variety of rich, luxurious flavours, under their Christmas tree. Likewise, their hollow, gold-foil wrapped chocolate figures are a staple during the festive season.
This year, their beloved Gold Teddy, available in various sizes, has been spotted on many supermarket shelves, while I’ve had difficulty finding their festive Reindeer and chocolate Santa. Not to be outdone, Aldi has launched its own festive figurines this Christmas, and I was eager to see how they compared to Lindt.
Aldi isn’t shy about paying homage to other companies with its own versions of similar products. It wasn’t that long ago the budget-friendly retailer was in hot water with Marks and Spencer after its Cuthbert the Caterpillar cakes were said to be too similar to M&S legend, Colin the Caterpillar.
In 2021, M&S pursued legal action against the retailer, claiming Aldi’s version infringed on its trademark before they ultimately reached a “confidential agreement” out of court.
I didn’t see any chocolate teddy bears on Aldi’ packed shelves, but I did find its Dairyfine Milk Chocolate Reindeer, which costs a very reasonable 89p for a 105g treat.
Lindt’s Milk Chocolate Teddy was available at Asda for £3 for 100g. As they’re both hollow, Christmas-themed milk chocolate treats, I thought they were well suited to a little taste test.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in packaging – Lindt’s felt much more luxurious and the gold foil was a much stronger, warmer hue compared to Aldi’s more subtle, washed out version. Lindt’s Teddy also comes complete with a red ribbon and gift tag around its neck, so you can add a personal touch if buying it for someone else.
At Lindt stores, you can go one step further and have a name printed on the ribbon in gold lettering – this delighted people when a demonstration was shared on TikTok. People were enthusiastic in the comments section, leaving praise like “so cute” and “wow”.
But the most important factor is, of course, the taste. I tried Lindt’s first and wasn’t at all surprised that it was heavenly. It was creamy, rich, smooth and deliciously sweet. It really tastes as though high-quality ingredients have been used.
When I tried Aldi’s chocolate reindeer, though, I got a little bit of a shock. Though it was definitely less creamy and luxurious, and had a stronger cocoa flavour, it still tasted like a very good imitation of Lindt’s Teddy. I was impressed.
Later, I even completed a blind taste test and though I could taste the difference and correctly identified Lindt’s chocolate, Aldi has done a stellar job.
At £3, Lindt’s Teddy is a decent price for such a luxe brand but there’s not too crazy of a difference in flavour between it and Aldi’s version, in my humble opinion. If you’re looking to save a couple of pounds, Aldi’s chocolate reindeer definitely does a good enough job.