The arrival of Tesco’s ‘birthday cake sandwich’ drew the inevitable attention of nearby colleagues when the bright purple package arrived at my desk.
Launching just weeks after the M&S Strawberries and Cream version, the supermarket’s cheaper take a sweet sando has gone equally viral.
Metro colleagues visited two Tesco stores in an attemp to get their hands on one, only to be told fully stocked shelves had been emptied by 10.30am. Thankfully, the Whoosh delivery service came to the rescue.
Released to celebrate 30 years of the Tesco Clubcard, the Victoria sponge-inspired sandwich features a brioche-style bread, filled with a strawberry jam and cream cheese filling, with a generous amount of rainbow sprinkles throughout.
The limited edition launch is priced at £3 as a stand-alone item, or £4 as part of a meal deal. So, let’s see what all the fuss is about.
At first glance, Tesco’s novelty sandwich might be mistaken for a distant cousin of the popular M&S dessert-sandwich sensation. However, as we unwrapped the packaging the initial intrigue of colleagues quickly turned into collective bemusement.
On closer inspection, the vivid blue and yellow sprinkles embedded throughout the cream cheese filling evoked less of a festive celebration and more of an unfortunate mouldy appearance.
Perhaps not exactly the celebration vibe Tesco was going for?
Instagram and social media personality Bella Hill calls the sprinkle cream cheese combo ‘colourful coleslaw’ in her review.
Despite its questionable appearance, the sandwich does offer an unexpected, satisfying crunch from the sprinkles, which contrast with the thick, creamy filling. But the sweetness is where the sandwich becomes divisive.
The combination of jam and cream cheese is extremely sugary, and in my opinion, is verging on sickly. You’ll need something to wash it down.
A glance at the nutritional label explains it: the sandwich contains 35% of an adult’s recommended daily sugar intake in a single serving.
For those with a serious sweet tooth or simply after a novelty treat, it might just do the trick, but for most, it’s likely to be a one-time curiosity rather than a regular lunch option.
Perhaps a true brioche might have elevated the overall experience, giving a richer, more dessert-like quality to the sandwich. Instead, the bread provided feels much closer to a standard white loaf, making the balance of flavours feel a bit skewed.
While I wouldn’t buy the sandwich again, and it certainly won’t be making it into my meal deal rotation, at £3 it’s relatively affordable – especially in today’s economy, where lunch options are creeping steadily upwards in price.
But while the price point may be kind on your card, it does seem to be reflected in the overall quality. The bread feels budget, the flavours slightly unbalanced, and the execution lacks some finesse.
So how do the M&S and Tesco versions compare?
While M&S launched their indulgent sandwich during Wimbledon in a clever nod to British summertime, the Tesco version feels more suited to a children’s bithday party.
Both have been divisive, with Metro’s specialist food writer Courtney Pochin saying of the former: ‘Anyone who claims it’s the best thing they’ve ever eaten is probably just overhyping it for social media likes.’
There’s no getting around it: the Tesco version is the immature flatmate of M&S. But if this sandwich were positioned as part of a party platter, or placed in the kids’ catering section alongside cupcakes and mini sausage rolls, it would likely be a hit.
And surprisingly, Metro’s Mel Evans actually preferred the cheaper Tesco edition, calling M&S’s thicker bread and cream ‘too cloying and dense.’
‘Having tried both the new Tesco sandwich and the viral M&S strawberries and cream offering, I’ve come to the conclusion that Tesco’s sweet treat edges ever so slightly ahead. Both the bread and the filling were lighter on the palate, whereas I was left struggling through the thick bread of M&S’ sando. Still, both are most definitely suited to those with a sweet tooth,’ she said.
If you’re keen to give the Tesco launch a try, you’ll need to move quickly. This limited-edition sandwich is only available from August 4th to August 31st, and it’s already selling out rapidly in stores.
Whether you’re tempted by curiosity or a craving for something sweet, remember, this isn’t your everyday lunch option, but is definitely worth a test, perhaps with a glass of water nearby.
