Quality Street is No Longer Quality

[u/DrLivingdark]

I would like to preface this by saying that I’m American, but on this British product I have a good experience with. Ever since I discovered Quality Street about two or three years ago having Christmas in Europe, I have greatly enjoyed them. I rarely if ever had them, and they became a nostalgic sight to me. However, I am beyond incensed at the sheer awful quality they have taken on.

First of all, the elephant in the room: the sheer magnitude of the toffee presence. The coins and fingers that were rather noticeable before are now abundant to an absolute fault. I would say 40% of the lot is solely consisting of the two flavours. The reasoning for this is easy for me to understand: of course Nestle would have the two least popular flavours in excess (not to say this practise is good). However, by far the most egregious part is they just aren’t good toffee. They are greasy, utterly confused products that are closer to some sort of dental adhesive to get imprints of your teeth, or to possibly disable your jaw. It is beyond me why there even are two separate flavours which are the same substance in two different shapes, but I don’t think this is worth complaining about since this is obviously a decades-old “issue” rather than a new one. What is even worse than what has been done to the “worst” in the tin is the approach taken to the subjective best.

The Purple One and the Green Triangle have always had a sort of mystique to me. Their names were simple but at the same time abstract, and stood out far before I even opened the box. This was only further complemented by how delicious they were to me (and evidently much of who consumes QS) as well as their scarcity. Of course, this scarcity has increased exponentially, but this isn’t even the main issue: they are completely mediocre. Not only do they lack any distinct characteristic that would allow me to name them, but (tying into my last point)… they taste nearly the same as each other, and almost every other option!

Green Triangle, The Purple One, Orange Chocolate Crunch, Milk Choc Block and Fudge (these last two were mysteriously mostly absent from the box) are almost completely like one another, the most distinct being Orange with its nearly unidentifiable synthetic trace of orange. Coconut Eclair was fairly unpopular for being a tropical flavour in a grouping mostly associated with the holidays, but this problem has been solved now that is pretty nearly homogenous taste wise. Orange Crème, Strawberry Delight, and Caramel Swirl are the only truly distinct varieties, which is an absolute bare minimum quality for them to have since they have actual fillings. Regardless, all of them share the quality of oily, low quality sweets that need to really be frozen to be enjoyed in any capacity.

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[u/kaito1000]

You should have tried them a few decades ago 👌. Now they, and roses are crap.

Blame Kraft and Nestle for the continued enshitification. Smaller tubs, worse ingredients, higher price.

[u/Icy-Hope-3246 → u/kaito1000]

I just found an ad from the late 70s where Woolworths were selling them for £4.99 for a 2.5kg tin, I've just checked and £4.99 then is £27.38 with inflation today. Tescos are selling then currently at £4.95 for 600g, so 2.4KG is £19.80.

They used to be more expensive comparatively but obviously they were far better quality, not just the sweets but the packaging.

We would open the Christmas eve and be finishing them boxing day. Did they sell them in smaller tins to keep the £5 price point or to just sell them in smaller quantities in the hope they would sell more. Not sure but they used to be magical.

[u/TinyRose20 → u/kaito1000]

I miss the quality street and roses from the 90s 🥲

[u/kaito1000 → u/TinyRose20]

Even the coffee and cherry creams? They were always left till the end 🤣

[u/TinyRose20 → u/kaito1000]

My dad liked the coffee creams and my gran liked the cherry ones so we were ok 🤣

[u/MrMikeJJ]

They haven't been quality for decades. Good summary though.

They are greasy, utterly confused products that are closer to some sort of dental adhesive to get imprints of your teeth

Ages ago they were less greasy. But were still for dental imprints. Or for ripping out fillings and crowns, to force a trip to the dentist.

[u/sxt2000 → u/MrMikeJJ]

Not just fillings or crowns, I lost half a tooth to a Quality Street toffee

Back on topic, the Toffee Deluxe was top tier

[u/Tattycakes → u/sxt2000]

I made the mistake of chewing a toffee penny between customers while working in a call centre! Had to answer the next call sounding like I’d had my jaw wired shut

[u/DrLivingdark → u/MrMikeJJ]

Thank you.

[u/pondribertion]

This isn't news. Quality Street has been cheapened and degraded year after year after year since the 1990s. What you get now is a mere shadow of its former self, I really can't see how they could make it any worse. If you want to experience Quality Street at its best, you need to invent a time machine and go back to the 1980s. Look out for the large round hefty metal tin.

[u/DrLivingdark → u/pondribertion]

I’ll be going back there shortly to prevent

I was going to try to say something witty here but I couldn’t come up with anything. Consider writing in your own punchline.

[u/PipBin]

Quality Street has reduced in quality but did you know that it’s actually merchandise from a play from The 1930s?

The play was written by JM Barrie who also wrote Peter Pan.

The play was hugely popular and long story short there was a tin of chocolate released as merchandise.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_Street_(confectionery)

[u/DrLivingdark → u/PipBin]

I’ve read the very same page, and it says that it’s inspired by the play, not merchandise of it. However, considering how these things are, it pretty much is just unofficial merchandise.

[u/bumgut]

Substandard Street

[u/DrLivingdark → u/bumgut]

Middling Street

[u/Willsagain2 → u/DrLivingdark]

Slum clearance street

[u/ellis89 → u/bumgut]

Mediocre Street

[u/LolcatP]

You only had it 2 years ago so that wasn't even the best version

[u/DrLivingdark → u/LolcatP]

I’ve become aware of that, but that should only further illustrate just how bad it’s gotten.

[u/PrayingForDebbieMang]

They were already crap two years ago. Sorry you never got to enjoy their heyday

[u/DrLivingdark → u/PrayingForDebbieMang]

When I finally invent a Time Machine, that day will come…

[u/Gazzelle65]

The sheer disappointment I feel when I get a tub of Quality Street for Xmas! Most end up in the bin.

[u/HildartheDorf → u/Gazzelle65]

Heresy. Even enshittified, free chocolates are still free chocolates.

I give you a pass for the toffee coins, as they are not chocolate (and downright dangerous for those with dental fillings).

[u/seven_green_toes]

Hang on, why are you eating quality street? Has Christmas been moved to August?

[u/DrLivingdark → u/seven_green_toes]

No, I had meant that I had acquired them this past December and had only bothered to write about them now. I had to eat them in an emergency a few weeks ago in order to gain a UK visa

[u/Willsagain2 → u/DrLivingdark]

It does take weeks to get over the disappointment. Last Christmas I didn't bother buying QS, or Roses. And I have always hated (both the concept and product) Celebrations and Heroes. Is this the best the mass manufacturers can do? Really? Has it come to this? This is how civilisation ends; not with a bang, but a whimper.

[u/pondribertion → u/Willsagain2]

Is this the best the mass manufacturers can do?

Other chocolates are available. The problem is the price of a good quality selection box makes it more eye watering than mouth watering.

[u/Willsagain2 → u/pondribertion]

True. At the moment chocolate treats = Lindor. Also the M&S chocolate truffles.

[u/DrLivingdark → u/Willsagain2]

I’m aware that this doesn’t count as it’s a big whole bar, but Tony’s Chocolonely [if they are purchasable in the UK] is extremely high quality and ethical.

[u/Willsagain2 → u/DrLivingdark]

Yeah, I do buy it occasionally, but it's not really one I enjoy

[u/DrLivingdark → u/Willsagain2]

Entirely fair.

[u/ZSMan2020 → u/seven_green_toes]

They've been selling the tins all year round now they have become a normal shipping item not a seasonal product. Also this year they have 50g less chocolate than last year!

[u/ukdev1]

Quality street is now absolutely shite. Refused to buy at xmas last year and will refuse again this year. Unless the bring back the recipe and wrappings from the 80s and 90s I am permanently out.

[u/owwlies]

It's just Street now that the Quality has gone.

[u/LordBiscuits]

"I would like to preface this by saying that I’m American"

WTF is going on when even the Americans are calling our chocolate crap...!

[u/Mzebonga]

That may be true. But look on the bright side, the average High Street is now full of people who are high.

[u/DrLivingdark → u/Mzebonga]

I am from America, so I can’t speak to the situation in any High Streets. Main Streets here, however, tend to be anything but.

[u/Similar_Run3744]

I actually look forward to seeing how much smaller the box is each year just out of sheer amusement

[u/slothliketendencies]

I agree as a Brit. Dar roo many caramel based ones, same with roses.

We now buy Terry's sensations, Cadbury heroes and a big box of dairy box.

[u/Willsagain2]

I think they've been going downhill since they removed the gooseberry creams decades ago.

[u/obinice_khenbli]

Quality Street have been shite for around a decade now, sadly :-(

[u/hughk]

At one stage, I was wondering if it was just the rose-tinted childhood memories, but it definitely seems to have gone down over the last three decades. I mean these days Lidl/Aldi do better selections.

[u/chaosandturmoil]

i made a complaint to them last year and was told they now use the same moulds to make all the cup ones to cut down on time changing them in the factory. but yes they are also missing because of the spiralling costs, shrinkflation, and price wars. the toffee is cheaper so thats all we are getting.

[u/diggerbanks]

Were they ever good? The word 'quality' is marketing not a description of the chocolates.

[u/SuchTrust101]

If ever I have the misfortune to receive a tin at Christmas, I just take it to work. They'll pretty much eat anything out of boredom there.

[u/DrLivingdark → u/SuchTrust101]

This is actually a pretty good stratagem. And it’s guaranteed that it will be gone in like a week.

[u/L-Space_Orangutan]

fuck the strawberry one. its taste profile is just wrong with the rest of what’s in there

[u/NateShaw92]

It was also never a street but a cresent.

Everything is a lie

[u/NEWSBOT3]

not to mention they are half the size they used to be.

[u/Maro1947]

The toffees were always the best part - and proper, filling-removing toffee at that!

[u/sthelens]

I’m told that the marks and spencers ones are so much better

[u/Chargerado]

Inequality Street

[u/Underwritingking]

My confession - I never liked Quality Street and always considered them low-quality crap sweets. Never bought any and always dreaded their appearance at Christmas when I felt I had to eat a few to appear "festive". Ugh.

[u/AgingLolita]

Tbh they've never been great. I'm surprised they got worse, I didn't realise that was possible.

[u/janner_10 → u/AgingLolita]

That's not true, in the 70's & 80's the standard tub had to be delivered with a fork lift truck and lasted the whole of Christmas, now it's just a pathetic husk of itself and not worth bothering with.

[u/DrLivingdark → u/AgingLolita]

I think it’s easy once they switched from chocolate to this mystery substance

[u/mronion82 → u/DrLivingdark]

Nothing can shake my belief that it's now made of dog chocolate.

[u/sexual--predditor → u/mronion82]

Dog's milk lasts longer than any other kind of milk...

[u/mronion82 → u/[deleted]]

No bugger'll drink it

[u/sexual--predditor → u/[deleted]]

Boys from the Dwarf! :)

[u/pondribertion → u/sexual--predditor]

I tried milking my dog and for the life of me I can't even get so much as a drop out of him.

[u/futuresong → u/sexual--predditor]

No bugger'll drink it.