Tesco shoppers divided over PINK hot cross buns with retro flavour

TESCO shoppers have expressed mixed reactions to the introduction of a new hot cross bun flavour featuring a pink design. Now available in stores well ahead of Easter, the UK's largest supermarket is offering rhubarb & custard hot cross buns as part of its seasonal range. This twist on the classic Easter treat is made with rhubarb purée, dried cream, and freeze-dried rhubarb. A pack of four is priced at £1.80 and can be purchased in-store or online.

However, the new flavour has sparked lively discussion on social media. While some shoppers are excited to try the innovative creation, others remain loyal to the traditional recipe. One shopper said on Facebook: "Aldi did rhubarb and custard ones a few years ago they were my favourite as I don't like dried fruit and spices. "Shame these have dried fruit". Another shopper jokes: "So I'm usually a purist when it comes to hot cross buns but tempted to make an exception here.".

A third said: "They are very good.". However, not everyone is on board with the new flavour. One shopper said: "Why do they play around with perfection.". A HOT cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with yeast, typically containing dried fruits like raisins or currants and marked with a cross on top. This cross can be made of flour paste or icing. The buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday in many countries, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and India, but are increasingly available year-round, especially in the UK.

The tradition of eating hot cross buns is deeply intertwined with Easter and Christianity. The cross is symbolic of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the spices are sometimes said to represent those used to embalm him. One tradition even suggests that hot cross buns baked on Good Friday will not go mouldy for a year. However, the history of hot cross buns likely predates Christianity. Some believe they originated with the ancient Greeks, who may have marked cakes with crosses.

Others link them to pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon celebrations of spring and the goddess Ēostre, from whom the name "Easter" may derive. These early buns might have been offered to celebrate the goddess and the changing seasons. A third said: "Can we not just have ordinary standard ones please, and leave all them flavours for sweets and desserts!". In recent years, supermarkets have embraced the trend of introducing quirky and unconventional twists on the traditional hot cross bun.

Just last week, M&S unveiled a lemon-curd-filled variety, adding a zesty spin to the Easter classic. In 2024, we put a selection of these inventive flavours to the test, including a savoury cheddar and red Leicester-inspired bun that reimagines the treat entirely. We also sampled Aldi’s banoffee-flavoured hot cross buns, proving that the boundaries of this seasonal staple are being pushed further than ever.

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This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.