Commuters buying a coffee-break biscuit
A compact pack or individual portions may be easier to carry than a sharing packet. Check the serving format and allergen label before putting biscuits in your bag.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers avoiding gluten or milk
Look for the specific labelling you need. Tesco Free From Custard Creams are labelled gluten-free and milk-free; Schär Custard Creams are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free. Those are different milk-related claims.
Coffee shoppers buying a small gift
An everyday biscuit packet and a boxed chocolate selection serve different purposes. If the purchase is a present, consider the recipient’s preferences and check the exact box’s ingredients and allergens.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether the purchase is for your own coffee break or for someone else, then compare pack format, dietary labelling and nutrition on the products you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Check pack weight and whether biscuits come in individual portions. Tesco Groceries lists Schär’s 125g pack as five portions of two biscuits; the standard Tesco and Asda packs are 400g. | I want biscuits for one coffee break without carrying an open sharing packet. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients, free-from claims and any may-contain statement. Standard Tesco and Asda custard creams list wheat and milk; Tesco Free From is labelled gluten-free and milk-free, while Schär is labelled gluten-free and lactose-free. | If I am buying for someone with dietary restrictions, the exact claim on the pack matters more than whether a biscuit is vegetarian. |
| Nutrition | Compare sugars and saturates per 100g, then check the per-biscuit serving. Tesco Groceries lists 28.3g sugars and 12.8g saturates per 100g for its standard custard creams; the NHS classifies more than 22.5g sugars or 5g saturates per 100g as high. | I want to compare biscuits of different sizes on the same basis and see what one coffee-break portion contains. |
| Gifting | Consider whether a biscuit packet or a chocolate selection fits the occasion. Marks & Spencer presents its boxed chocolate range as a gift-or-treat option; check the chosen box’s ingredients and allergens. | For a present, I care about what the recipient likes as well as how the food is presented. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming vegetarian means free from gluten or milk
Standard custard creams can be labelled suitable for vegetarians while still containing wheat and milk.
When avoidance is necessary, look for the relevant claim on the exact pack and read its full allergen statement, including may-contain wording.
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Comparing only the figure for one biscuit
Biscuit sizes can differ, so per-biscuit figures alone do not give a consistent comparison between products. The NHS per-100g thresholds classify the sugars and saturates listed for standard Tesco and Asda custard creams as high.
Use the per-100g figures to compare products, then check the per-biscuit figure for the portion you intend to have.
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Taking a sharing pack on a single commute
A 400g packet is a different carrying proposition from a 125g pack divided into portions. An opened packet also needs to be stored as its label directs.
Choose a format you can carry, or portion biscuits before leaving and follow the pack’s storage instructions afterwards.
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Assuming a chocolate box suits every recipient
A gift-oriented box does not establish that its ingredients meet a recipient’s dietary needs.
Check their preferences and read the ingredient and allergen information for the particular selection before giving it.
Which brands offer relevant options?
Tesco
Tesco lists both standard 400g custard creams and a separate 125g Free From version.
- The Free From version is labelled gluten-free, milk-free and vegan.
- The standard biscuits contain wheat and milk; Tesco Groceries lists 28.3g sugars and 12.8g saturates per 100g.
Asda
Asda’s standard custard creams come in a 400g pack suited to shoppers considering a larger packet.
- The pack provides a conventional custard-cream option for sharing or keeping at home.
- It contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame, rye, barley and oats. Asda Groceries lists 29g sugars and 13g saturates per 100g.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a 200g standard custard-cream pack, smaller than the 400g standard Tesco and Asda packs.
- Its 200g format is an option when a 400g packet is more than you want to carry or store.
- The biscuits contain wheat and milk and, according to Sainsbury's, are not suitable for customers with a barley allergy because of manufacturing methods.
M&S
M&S lists Extra Cream Custard Creams and, separately, boxed chocolate selections presented for gifts or treats.
- The boxed chocolate range offers a different presentation when the coffee purchase is intended as a gift.
- M&S lists 40.2g sugars and 13.5g saturates per 100g for its Extra Cream Custard Creams. Check each chocolate box separately for ingredients and allergens.
McVitie's
McVitie's Tasties Custard Creams are listed as a 300g cream-filled biscuit.
- The Joybuy product description states that they are made without hydrogenated vegetable oils or artificial colours and flavours.
- They contain milk and wheat and may contain sesame. The cited Joybuy listing states that the product is no longer available.
Crawford's
Crawford's has a conventional 300g custard-cream listing.
- The Tesco Groceries listing states that the biscuits contain no hydrogenated vegetable oil or artificial colours or flavours.
- The product contains wheat and milk and may contain sesame. The cited Tesco listing was out of stock when accessed.
Custard creams on Joybuy
This custard-cream option focuses on portioned biscuits for a commuter coffee break; it is not a boxed chocolate gift.
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Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g
Five individual portions of two biscuits let you take a portion for a coffee break. The product is labelled gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan; lactose-free does not establish that it is milk-free, so check the pack if milk avoidance matters.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary custard creams gluten-free or milk-free?
Do not assume so: the standard Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's products list wheat and milk. If you need gluten-free or milk-free biscuits, choose a pack explicitly labelled for that requirement and check its current allergen statement.
What should I check if I have custard creams with coffee regularly?
Compare sugars and saturates per 100g as well as the figure for the portion you eat. The NHS classifies more than 22.5g sugars or 5g saturates per 100g as high; the standard Tesco and Asda custard creams listed here exceed both thresholds.
How should I store an opened packet?
Follow the instructions on the particular pack. The standard Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's custard-cream product information advises cool, dry storage and an airtight container after opening. GOV.UK explains that a best-before date concerns quality, unlike a use-by date, which concerns safety.
When should I choose boxed chocolates instead?
Choose a boxed chocolate selection when the purchase is chiefly a gift and its presentation or variety suits the recipient. For a straightforward coffee-break biscuit, custard creams may fit the purpose better; check the exact product’s allergen information before buying for someone else.