When I first heard that Cadbury Roses would be shaking things up by bringing back old flavours, introducing some new faces and eliminating some fan favourites (RIP peppermint crisp) it wasn’t big news to me. Sure, I’m familiar with Roses and have eaten them over the years, but to be honest, I’m not what you’d call a chocolate loyalist. If it’s there, cool. If it’s not, no big deal. So it made sense that the task of casting a critical eye over the new flavours and ranking the new guard from best to worst fell to me: Switzerland. My method involved a deeply scientific study which consisted of cutting each chocolate in half (saving peppermint for last so as not to block my palate), and diving in while colleagues gathered around, chanting my name. (Okay, that last bit might not be quite accurate, but there were certainly questions fielded; mostly of the “are you mad?” variety.) It must also be stressed that these are my thoughts and feelings alone, and every effort was made to leave bias at the door. While I did have a point system in place, that is a closely guarded industry secret that I will not be revealing.

I’m sorry. I know it’s an acquired taste, and based on recent engagement on a delicious. Threads post, I’ve just made some enemies. But this just ain’t all that. To my taste, the subtle rosewater of the traditional Middle Eastern treat has been taken here and cranked up to 11. For me, it was akin to eating potpourri.

This one surprised me, as I’m normally a fan of hard caramel, but this lacked complexity. To be honest, I kind of just wanted it to be over. It’s certainly not offensive, but it probably wouldn’t be my first or even second choice if I was rummaging for a sugar hit.

This may be divisive, but I don’t really vibe with fruit and chocolate together. Even if it’s just a slightly gritty flavour additive. It is for this reason that the Strawberry Crème sits so low. As with the Turkish Delight, it’s a whole lot of flavour – distinctly OTT and bordering on saccharine.

This does exactly what it says on the box: a very runny and slightly salty caramel within a milk chocolate shell. If you’re into Caramello Koalas, you’ll love this. It’s more balanced than its Classic Caramel counterpart, and the contrasts of texture between the snap of the chocolate and the torrent of caramel provides interest. Overall pleasant.

Colour me surprised – a nougat that actually tastes like almonds! To me, the chewy texture of the nougat on this particular Roses chocolate is by far the most interesting of the bunch, and while it may not be my favourite in terms of flavour, it’s quite possibly the most considered and complex.

Orange and chocolate is another of those love-it-or-hate-it combinations. I’ve been known to throw down a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in my time, and while I can see why longtime fans of the Roses collection might have demanded the triumphant return of the Orange Crème, it’s still a lot to take in. This isn’t a chocolate for beginners. It packs a punch of citrus that could lead to sensory overload (in a very good way).

What can be said that hasn’t been said before? Sometimes the best things in life are the simplest, and Cadbury nails milk chocolate like few others. But I was also left scratching my head at its inclusion in a box of such diversity. Surely if we’re at the point where we’re sacrificing God-tier flavours like the Hazelnut Crème Crisp, there are plenty of other, more worthy contenders that would beat out a plain old piece of chocolate?

From out of left field is new contender, Passionfruit Delight. Coming in swinging, this is the dark horse that has been creating plenty of buzz, and for good reason. Its sharp sourness is a welcome addition to the pack, and the use of Old Gold dark chocolate rather than milk makes for a slower melt and a smooth mouthfeel, while the whack of acid at the end stops any flavour fatigue one might be feeling after an exhaustive chocolate taste test.

There’s something so comforting – and a bit retro – about the crème centre of Cadbury Roses. And while the texture might not be to everyone’s taste, you simply cannot knock the classic combo of dark chocolate and mint. Roses’ Peppermint Crème is pulling no punches, and as the contents coat your tongue, the length of the mint flavour just keeps going. Bold strokes, folks. Bold strokes.

You heard it here first. You just cannot top the rich warmth of hazelnuts and the crunch that they bring to a piece of chocolate. The Hazelnut Swirl is deceptive. It seems like just another choc, but the secrets it keeps set it apart from its other Roses buddies. It’s all buttery richness, but is also surprisingly packed with toasted and crushed hazelnuts that are dispersed throughout. Way to go!