Choose a Bourbon if you want a cocoa-flavoured sandwich biscuit, but do not take its dark colour to mean it contains dark chocolate: the Tesco and Sainsbury's standard Bourbons described here use cocoa powder, while the coated Tesco and M&S examples use milk chocolate. If dark chocolate matters more than the Bourbon format, look for a biscuit explicitly labelled dark chocolate and check the current pack for any cocoa-solids percentage you require. For a flight, keep the pack accessible in case security needs to inspect your hand luggage.
If the chocolate type matters to you, look for an explicit dark-chocolate label rather than judging a Bourbon by its brown biscuit layers. Check the pack for a cocoa-solids figure if you have a particular percentage in mind.
A cocoa-flavoured sandwich biscuit fits this choice if you do not need a dark-chocolate coating. Check the pack size and ingredients before putting it in your hand luggage.
Choose by the claims and ingredients on the pack, not by the Bourbon name. Tesco describes its Free From Bourbon Creams as gluten-free, milk-free and suitable for vegans; check the current pack before buying.
Decide whether the Bourbon shape or an explicit dark-chocolate label matters more, then check dietary requirements and the rules for your journey.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate type | Read the product name and chocolate description. Tesco and Sainsbury's describe cocoa-powder Bourbons; Tesco and M&S describe their coated Bourbons as milk chocolate. Check the current pack for any required cocoa-solids percentage. | I want dark chocolate, not just a dark-looking biscuit. I can change biscuit style if the Bourbon options do not meet that requirement. |
| Biscuit style | Compare a Bourbon's filled sandwich format with the base and flavour of a labelled dark-chocolate alternative. M&S describes its dark-chocolate ginger biscuit as having an oat base and stem ginger. | A familiar Bourbon matters more to me than a dark-chocolate coating—or I am happy with a different biscuit and flavour to get one. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the physical pack's ingredient list, allergen information and dietary claims. Sainsbury's says its Bourbon is unsuitable for people allergic to milk or barley because of manufacturing methods; Tesco labels its Free From Bourbon gluten-free and milk-free. | If I need to avoid particular ingredients, I will choose from the current pack information rather than assuming all Bourbons have the same recipe. |
| Hand-luggage checks | Keep the biscuits accessible. GOV.UK says food can obstruct X-ray images of hand luggage and lead to a manual check. Confirm the rules for your departure airport and any transfer or return journey. | I want a snack I can carry without assuming that food will pass through security without inspection. |
Colour and chocolate-flavoured filling do not establish the chocolate type. Tesco and Sainsbury's list cocoa powder in their standard Bourbons.
If dark chocolate is essential, choose a pack explicitly labelled dark chocolate and check its cocoa-solids statement if a particular percentage matters to you.
Tesco and M&S describe the coated Bourbons covered here as milk-chocolate products.
Read the coating description. If you are comparing nutrition panels, use the same measure, such as per biscuit or per 100g.
Bourbon recipes and dietary claims differ. Sainsbury's flags milk and barley allergy concerns for its Bourbon, while Tesco labels its Free From version gluten-free and milk-free.
Read the ingredients, allergens and relevant claims on the physical pack you intend to take.
GOV.UK says food in hand luggage can require a manual security check. Heathrow also notes that rules at other airports may differ.
Keep your biscuits accessible and check the rules for your departure, transfer and return airports, as well as your destination.
These product examples show why the words Bourbon, cocoa and dark chocolate should not be treated as interchangeable.
Tesco lists standard Bourbon Creams, a Free From Bourbon and a separately labelled milk-chocolate-coated Bourbon.
Sainsbury's describes its 200g Bourbon as a cocoa sandwich biscuit.
M&S offers Bourbon variations and a separate dark-chocolate ginger biscuit.
Waitrose lists Essential Bourbon Creams alongside separately named dark-chocolate digestives.
McVitie's Bourbon creams and dark-chocolate digestives are distinct biscuit formats.
These options are for shoppers willing to choose a labelled dark-chocolate biscuit instead of a Bourbon cream. The formats differ, so check the current pack for ingredients and any cocoa percentage that matters to you.
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A choice for someone seeking a stated cacao percentage rather than a classic Bourbon cream. The product name says Cacao 72%; check the pack for the chocolate description and ingredients before travel.
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The name explicitly says dark chocolate. This twin pack contains 2 x 266g of digestives rather than Bourbon cream biscuits; check the current pack if you need a particular cocoa-solids percentage or allergen information.
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An explicitly named dark-chocolate option if oat and ginger biscuits appeal more than a Bourbon cream. The pack is 285g; check its ingredients and any cocoa-solids statement on the current label.
Biscuits can be carried as a solid snack, but allow for a possible bag check. GOV.UK says food can obstruct X-ray images and may need manual inspection. Keep the pack accessible and check the rules for your departure airport and any transfer or return airport.
Not necessarily. Tesco and Sainsbury's list cocoa powder in their standard Bourbons, while Tesco describes its coated Bourbon as milk chocolate. If you require dark chocolate, look for an explicit dark-chocolate label and check the current pack for any cocoa-solids percentage you need.
Read the ingredients, allergen information and any precautionary statements on the physical pack you will take. Recipes differ: Sainsbury's flags milk and barley allergy concerns for its Bourbon, while Tesco labels its Free From Bourbon gluten-free and milk-free. Do not assume those descriptions apply to other Bourbons or to a changed pack.