For several guests who mainly want custard creams, the 400g single-flavour packs listed by Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries contain more custard creams per pack than the 300g McVitie's and Crawford's products listed by Creamline and Tesco Groceries. Choose a named brand if that matters more than pack size, an assorted pack only if other biscuits are welcome, or a separately labelled free-from product that matches a guest's requirements. Check the current packet's ingredients and allergen information before serving.
If custard creams are the main biscuit, check that the whole pack contains them rather than an assortment. Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries each list a 400g custard-creams-only pack; the McVitie's and Crawford's packs listed by Creamline and Tesco Groceries are 300g.
Standard Tesco and Asda custard creams list wheat and milk. For a guest seeking a wheat-free or lactose-free option, the Schär 125g product listed by Waitrose & Partners has those labels. Check the current packet against the guest's specific requirements.
An assortment may suit a spread where custard creams are only one choice. Marks & Spencer's 530g Triple Pack Biscuits includes custard creams, malted milk biscuits and bourbon creams; its full weight is not custard creams alone.
Decide which biscuits you want to serve, then check pack weight, guest requirements and how you will store any leftovers.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack contents | Check net weight and whether every biscuit is a custard cream. Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries list 400g single-flavour packs; Marks & Spencer's 530g triple pack contains three biscuit types. | I'm serving custard creams as the main biscuit, so an assortment would not give me the same quantity of them. |
| Brand and quantity | Creamline lists McVitie's Custard Creams at 300g, and Tesco Groceries lists Crawford's at 300g. Compare those pack weights with the number of guests you expect. | A named brand matters to me, and I can decide whether a 300g pack is enough for the table. |
| Dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration. Tesco and Asda list wheat and milk; Waitrose & Partners labels its Schär 125g custard creams wheat-free and lactose-free. | One of my guests has a specific requirement, so I need to check the exact product with them rather than assume any custard cream will suit. |
| Leftovers | Check the pack's storage instructions before opening it. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Crawford's product information calls for airtight storage after opening. | If biscuits are left after the cream tea, I want a way to store them as directed on the packet. |
Marks & Spencer's 530g Triple Pack Biscuits also contains malted milk and bourbon creams, so its full weight will not meet a custard-creams-only serving plan.
Check the pack description for each biscuit type; choose an assortment when that variety is what you intend to serve.
The Tesco, Asda and Crawford's products described by their retailers contain wheat and milk. Allergen declarations can also include other ingredients or may-contain warnings relevant to a guest.
Ask the guest about their requirements and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packet you will serve. Check any alternative in the same way.
Tesco Groceries lists its own-brand Custard Cream Biscuits in a 400g pack.
ASDA Groceries lists its own-brand Custard Creams in a 400g pack.
Creamline lists McVitie's Custard Creams as a 300g pack of vanilla-flavour cream-filled sandwich biscuits.
Tesco Groceries lists Crawford's Custard Creams as a 300g pack.
Sainsbury's lists its own-brand Custard Creams in a 200g pack.
Marks & Spencer lists 165g Extra Cream Custard Creams and a 530g Triple Pack Biscuits assortment.
This smaller custard-cream pack is an option to check when a guest needs a gluten-free biscuit, rather than a family-sized pack for the whole table.
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The 125g pack is an option when a guest needs gluten-free custard creams. Check the current packet against their requirements, and consider how much you need if serving several guests.
Check the net weight and whether the pack contains only custard creams. Tesco Groceries and ASDA Groceries each list a 400g custard-creams-only pack, while Marks & Spencer's 530g triple pack spreads its weight across three biscuit types. Work out how many guests you expect and what else you will serve.
Do not assume they are suitable: the Tesco, Asda and Crawford's products described by their retailers contain wheat and milk. Ask the guest what they need and check the ingredients and allergen declaration on the packet you receive, including any may-contain warnings.
Waitrose & Partners lists Schär Gluten Free Custard Creams 125g as wheat-free and lactose-free. It is a smaller pack than the 400g standard options listed by Tesco and Asda; confirm the current label meets the guest's particular requirements before serving.
Follow the instructions on your packet. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Crawford's product information calls for airtight storage after opening and a cool, dry place for storage.