For a larger afternoon tea where guests can eat wheat and milk, Tesco and Asda each offer a 400g custard cream pack; Sainsbury’s 200g pack suits a smaller gathering or a plan to leave fewer biscuits open. Schär’s 125g pack of five portions addresses different dietary requirements, while a softer alternative is worth offering if a guest finds crisp biscuits difficult to chew.
A single larger pack may be convenient for a shared tea table. Tesco Groceries and Asda Groceries each list a 400g custard cream pack; both products contain wheat and milk, so check guests’ dietary requirements before serving.
If fewer biscuits are likely to be eaten, Sainsbury’s lists a 200g pack with approximately 16 servings. That is a smaller packet to open than the 400g Tesco and Asda options.
Asda Groceries lists Schär gluten-free custard creams in a 125g pack of five portions, labelled wheat-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans. Check the current pack against the particular guest’s requirements rather than assuming one free-from label covers every allergy.
Start with the number of guests and their dietary requirements, then consider biscuit texture and the information on each pack.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare pack weights and any stated serving counts. Tesco Groceries and Asda Groceries list 400g packs; Asda suggests 34 servings. Sainsbury’s lists 200g and approximately 16 servings. | For a larger table, I want enough biscuits in one pack. If only a few people are coming, I would rather open a smaller packet. |
| Dietary fit | Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration. Tesco and Asda standard custard creams contain wheat and milk; Asda lists Schär’s 125g alternative as wheat-free, lactose-free and suitable for vegans. | Someone coming to tea needs a biscuit that fits their stated dietary requirements, even if that means serving a separate option. |
| Texture | Check whether a crisp biscuit suits each guest and have another food available if it does not. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition identifies chewing problems among factors associated with food variety and nutrient intake in older adults. | I do not want to assume that every older guest finds the same biscuit easy to chew. |
| Nutrition label | Compare values on the same basis, such as per biscuit or per 100g, and check the portion being served. Tesco Groceries lists 3.4g sugars and 1.5g saturates per biscuit for its 400g product. | If I am checking what a serving contains, I want the figures for the actual product and a clear serving basis. |
| After opening | Check the pack’s storage directions before opening more biscuits than needed. Tesco Groceries and Asda Groceries both direct shoppers to use an airtight container after opening. | For a small tea, I would prefer not to open a large packet unless I can store what remains as directed. |
These custard cream packs range from Schär’s 125g portioned pack to the 400g Tesco and Asda packs. A smaller pack may run out sooner at a larger tea table.
Choose the pack weight with the number of guests in mind; use a smaller pack deliberately when you expect fewer biscuits to be eaten.
The listed Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s standard products contain wheat and milk. A different guest requirement may call for a separately labelled option.
Ask about requirements before shopping and check the current ingredients and allergen information on every pack you intend to serve.
A crisp biscuit may be difficult for an individual guest to chew; age alone does not tell you whether it will suit them. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition identifies chewing-related factors as relevant to older adults’ food intake.
Ask the guest what works for them and offer a softer food alongside the biscuits if needed.
Tesco Groceries lists a 400g standard custard cream pack for a larger shared table.
Asda Groceries lists a 400g standard custard cream pack and suggests 34 servings.
Sainsbury’s lists a 200g custard cream pack with approximately 16 servings for a smaller tea table.
Marks & Spencer describes its 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams as containing extra vanilla cream and real custard powder.
Asda Groceries lists Schär gluten-free custard creams in a 125g pack of five portions.
Joybuy’s listing describes McVitie’s Tasties Custard Creams as a 300g pack.
This option is a portioned custard cream pack for guests seeking a gluten-free and lactose-free biscuit, rather than a standard larger sharing pack.
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For guests seeking a gluten-free, lactose-free option, this 125g product is listed by Asda Groceries as five portion packs. Check the current ingredients against each guest’s requirements and whether a crisp biscuit suits them.
Choose a pack with the group size and likely leftovers in mind, rather than assuming everyone will eat the same number. Tesco Groceries and Asda Groceries list 400g packs, with Asda suggesting 34 servings; Sainsbury’s lists a 200g pack with approximately 16 servings.
Not the listed Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury’s standard products: their ingredient information identifies wheat and milk. Asda Groceries labels Schär’s separate 125g product wheat-free and lactose-free, but check its complete current label against the guest’s particular requirement; lactose-free alone does not mean milk-free.
Not necessarily: ask the individual guest whether a crisp biscuit is easy for them to chew and offer another texture if needed. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition identifies chewing problems among factors associated with food variety and nutrient intake in older adults.
Follow the directions on the packet you buy. Tesco Groceries and Asda Groceries direct shoppers to keep their listed custard creams in an airtight container once opened.
Yes, particularly when serving someone with an allergy or another specific dietary requirement. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack being served rather than relying on what you remember from an earlier purchase.