From the beloved Tim Tams to Cadbury’s Caramilk, there’s been an Australian invasion of sweet treats on the UK’s supermarket shelves.
And now, M&S has launched its own offering: the Lamington.
Never heard of it? Me either. But my Aussie colleagues were beside themselves with excitement when they heard the news.
Apparently, a Lamington is a little cube of sponge cake, coated in rich chocolate sauce and finished with what M&S promises to be ‘all kinds of deliciousness.’
Said to date back to the 1890s, the story goes that Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland, had his chef whip up a treat to feed some unexpected guests, using whatever ingredients hanging around the kitchen: sponge cake, chocolate, and coconut.
M&S’s Lamingtons come in two flavours. The Chocolate and Coconut (£4 for a two-pack) is a buttermilk chocolate sponge smothered in chocolate sauce, rolled in coconut flakes and finished with a dollop of jam and buttercream.
Or, there’s the Caramelised Biscuit Lamington, which takes the original concept and amps it up a little with a caramelised biscuit crumb and salted caramel sauce.
M&S insist their Lamingtons are ‘extra special’. Alice Birch, product developer for bakery treats at M&S Food, said: ‘Lamingtons are definitely the most iconic cake from down under, and it’s very exciting to be the first to bring our version of this beloved Aussie classic to the UK high street.’
She added she’s ‘confident shoppers will be going wild’ for the treats on social media.
With such lofty ambitions, there was only one thing for it. Here at Metro, we asked our resident Aussies to taste the new M&S offering, to see how they compare to the much-adored treat grew up loving. Here’s how they got on…
‘A wave of disappointment’
It’s an Australian staple at charity bake sales. A treat after a long day at school. And now it’s in the hallowed halls of M&S supermarkets.
As soon as I saw the news that M&S has introduced two new Lamington flavours, I started salivating. But when I actually laid my eyes on them, a wave of disappointment washed over me.
Lamington puritans will immediately notice the hand-piped buttercream on top, which strays wildly from the OG recipe. Then biting into it, the chocolate sponge feels like yet another wildcard (it’s usually a butter sponge).
Taken at face value, both offerings are perfectly lovely (if perhaps a little sweet) chocolate cakes, but Lamingtons they are not. Dare I say, it’s too decadent to even be in the same family.
If I tried them without knowing this connection, the score might be higher, but I can’t in good conscience give it more than a 3.
Score: 3/5.
Reviewed by James Besanvalle, Assistant opinion and first-person editor.
‘My Aussie heart skipped a beat’
Upon hearing M&S were releasing a Lamington, my Aussie heart skipped a beat. I grew up on the staple of Lamington fingers, often scorching through a plastic tray of the wonders from Woolworths at every party I was ever invited to.
I’ve longed for a more accessible taste of home. Could this be it? In short. Not quite.
It’s tasty, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a Lamington in the true sense of the treat. A ‘classic’ Lamington is simple: Victoria sponge rolled in melted chocolate, then rolled in shaved coconut.
Chocolate cake rolled in desiccated coconut, or caramel biscuit, does not a ‘classic’ Lamington make. I’d call this a twist. A take. A tribute, if you will.
My initial mood upon cutting the aesthetic wonder in half and finding dense chocolate instead of fluffy – and, crucially plain – vanilla sponge was placated somewhat by the flavour, which was sweet but not overly rich.
Also, they’re a totally respectable size for an afternoon sweet treat or morning coffee accompaniment. Would I eat it again? Most definitely. But as an Aussie, I don’t think I can, in good faith, call this a true Lamington.
Score: 3/5.
Reviewed by Mel Evans, Partnerships and projects editor.
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