American vs UK Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: The Ultimate Taste Test Comparison

The wrapper crinkled. I bit down. And something was... off.

After twenty years of eating Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, I'd finally got my hands on an authentic American import. Same iconic orange wrapper. Same chocolate-peanut butter promise. But the taste? That was a different story entirely.

If you've ever wondered whether there's genuinely a difference between the Reese's you buy at Tesco and the ones shipped straight from Pennsylvania, you're not alone. It's one of the most hotly debated topics in the American candy import community—and frankly, after conducting my own taste tests (my desk has become a graveyard of orange wrappers), I've got some definitive answers.

Let me walk you through exactly what makes these two versions different, from ingredient lists to flavour profiles, and whether it's worth hunting down the American original.

The History Behind Two Different Recipes

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of taste, it helps to understand why two versions exist in the first place.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were invented by Harry Burnett Reese in 1928 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Reese was a former dairy farmer who worked at the Hershey chocolate factory before striking out on his own. The original formula used Hershey's chocolate and a distinctive sweet peanut butter filling that Americans have loved for nearly a century.

When Reese's expanded to the UK market in the 1990s, they didn't simply ship the American product overseas. Instead, a UK-specific formulation was developed—one that would meet European Union food regulations and, theoretically, suit British palates. But here's where it gets interesting: the UK version isn't technically milk chocolate at all.

I know. I was surprised too.

Breaking Down the Ingredient Differences

Right, let's get properly nerdy about this. I've got both ingredient lists in front of me, and the differences are more significant than you might expect.

The UK Version Ingredients

The UK Reese's Peanut Butter Cups contain what's labelled as "Milk Chocolate Flavoured Coating" (52%). That word "flavoured" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. The coating includes:

• Sugar (from genetically modified sugar beets)
• Cocoa butter
• Cocoa mass
• Skimmed milk powder
• Milk fat
• Lactose (milk)
• Emulsifiers: Soya lecithin (E322), Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E476)

The peanut butter crème centre (48%) contains:

• Peanuts
• Sugar
• Dextrose
• Salt
• Acidity regulator: Citric acid (E330)
• Antioxidant: TBHQ (E319)

The American Version Ingredients

The US Reese's uses actual "Milk Chocolate" with a minimum of 10% cocoa solids (the legal requirement in America). The ingredients list is slightly different:

• Sugar
• Cocoa butter
• Chocolate
• Skim milk
• Milk fat
• Lactose
• Lecithin (soy)
• PGPR (Polyglycerol polyricinoleate)

The peanut butter filling includes:

• Peanuts
• Sugar
• Dextrose
• Salt
• TBHQ

The Key Differences Explained

Here's what actually matters from those ingredient lists:

Chocolate vs "Chocolate Flavoured Coating": The UK version can't legally be called milk chocolate under EU regulations because it doesn't meet the minimum cocoa content requirements. In Europe, milk chocolate must contain at least 25% cocoa solids. The US only requires 10%. This means the UK version uses a "chocolate flavoured coating" that has a different ratio of cocoa butter to cocoa mass.

The Butyric Acid Question: And this is where things get controversial. American Hershey's chocolate has a distinctive tang that Europeans often describe as... well, slightly sour. That's down to butyric acid, which is produced during the Hershey Process—a method Milton Hershey developed in the 1900s to stabilise milk for chocolate production.

The milk is partially lipolyzed, creating butyric acid as a byproduct. It's the same compound found in parmesan cheese and—there's no delicate way to put this—vomit. American palates grew up with this flavour and find it comforting. Many British people find it distinctly off-putting.

The Taste Test: What I Actually Found

I ran a blind taste test with six colleagues (all chocolate fans, none of whom knew which cup came from where). The results surprised even me.

Chocolate Coating

American version: Noticeably tangier with that characteristic Hershey's note. The chocolate is sweeter overall and has a slightly waxy texture that melts differently on the tongue.

UK version: Smoother, creamier chocolate flavour without the acidic kick. Actually, the chocolate coating here tastes more like traditional European milk chocolate—less sweet, more cocoa-forward.

Verdict: 4 out of 6 testers preferred the UK chocolate coating. The remaining two were American expats who said the US version "tasted like home."

Peanut Butter Filling

American version: Drier, slightly grittier texture. The peanut flavour is more intense but the filling feels less creamy. Some testers described it as "more like actual peanut butter."

UK version: Creamier, sweeter filling with a smoother consistency. It's more like a peanut-flavoured confectionery centre than actual peanut butter.

Verdict: Split 3-3. Those who wanted authenticity preferred American. Those who wanted a smooth, sweet treat preferred UK.

Overall Balance

This is where my hot take comes in: the UK version is actually the better-balanced product.

I know some of you are thinking I've lost the plot. But hear me out. The American version has that jarring tang from the chocolate combined with a drier peanut butter centre. The UK version—whilst technically less "authentic"—delivers a more harmonious chocolate-peanut butter experience for British palates.

That said, if you grew up with the American original, nothing else will quite satisfy that craving. Taste memory is powerful stuff.

Nutrition Comparison: Calories and Sugar Content

Let's talk numbers, because I know plenty of you are wondering about the nutritional differences.

For a standard two-cup pack (42g):

The differences are marginal—about 10 calories and a gram of sugar per serving. You're not choosing between a healthy option and an unhealthy one here. Both versions are firmly in the treat category, as you'd expect from any chocolate and sweets product.

One thing worth noting: the American version tends to have slightly more protein due to the peanut butter formulation. But we're talking such small differences that they're nutritionally insignificant.

Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten-Free

I get asked about dietary requirements constantly, so let me clear up some common questions.

Are Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Vegetarian?

Yes, both UK and US versions are vegetarian. They contain dairy (milk chocolate coating) but no animal-derived ingredients that would exclude them from a vegetarian diet.

Are Reese's Gluten-Free?

The standard Reese's Peanut Butter Cups—both UK and US versions—don't contain gluten ingredients. However, they're not certified gluten-free, meaning there's potential for cross-contamination during manufacturing.

Important caveat: seasonal shapes (Easter eggs, Christmas trees, pumpkins) are often made in different facilities and may have higher cross-contamination risks. If you have coeliac disease, stick to the regular cups and check the packaging carefully.

Are There Vegan Options?

Hershey's launched Reese's Plant-Based Peanut Butter Cups in 2023, using oat flour instead of dairy. These are available in the US but remain difficult to find in UK shops. They're made with:

• Sugar
• Peanuts
• Cocoa butter
• Chocolate
• Oat flour
• Rice flour
• Dextrose
• Sea salt
• Lecithin (soy)

Note that the oat flour means they're not suitable for those avoiding gluten.

Where to Find Both Versions in the UK

If you want to conduct your own taste test (highly recommended), here's where to find each version.

UK-Formulated Reese's

Available at virtually every supermarket in Britain:

• Sainsbury's stocks the standard two-pack and multipacks
• Tesco carries a wide range including Big Cups
• ASDA, Morrisons, and Co-op all stock them
• Waitrose has limited selection but usually carries the basics

American-Import Reese's

This requires more hunting:

Specialist American candy shops:

• American Food Store (London, W11)
• Candymail UK (online)
• American Grocer (online)
• American Fizz (online)
• The American Candy Store (online)

Prices: Expect to pay £3-5 for a standard pack of American imports, compared to £1-2 for UK versions. The premium reflects import costs and the fact these are specialist items.

My tip: American import shops often stock products closer to their best-before dates. Check carefully and don't bulk-buy unless you're planning immediate consumption.

The Verdict: Which Should You Buy?

After all this testing, tasting, and ingredient analysis, here's my honest recommendation.

Buy UK Reese's if:

• You want the best value for money
• You prefer smoother, creamier chocolate
• You're not nostalgic for the American original
• You're buying for someone who hasn't tried either version

Buy American Reese's if:

• You've tasted them in the States and want that exact experience
• You're curious about the flavour difference
• You enjoy the tangier Hershey's chocolate profile
• You're hosting American friends or family

The uncomfortable truth: Neither version is objectively "better." They're different products for different palates. The UK version is optimised for British tastes, whilst the American version carries decades of flavour tradition that millions of people grew up with.

Seasonal Variations Worth Knowing About

Both markets get seasonal Reese's releases, though the US gets significantly more variety. Here's what to look out for:

Available in UK:

• Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (Easter)
• Reese's Pumpkins (Halloween)
• Reese's Christmas Trees (Christmas)

US-exclusive (may appear in import shops):

• Reese's Hearts (Valentine's Day)
• Reese's Bats (Halloween)
• Reese's Ghosts (Halloween)
• Reese's Footballs (American Football season)

One thing I've noticed during my January taste testing: the seasonal shapes often have better chocolate-to-peanut butter ratios. The Peanut Butter Eggs, in particular, pack significantly more filling than standard cups. Worth seeking out during Easter if you prefer more peanut butter in your ratio.

Beyond Standard Cups: Other Reese's Products Compared

The ingredient differences extend across the entire Reese's range. Here's what you'll find varies:

Reese's Pieces

Those candy-coated peanut butter morsels (yes, the ones from E.T.) are identical between markets—they're actually manufactured in the US and exported globally.

Reese's Big Cups

Both markets get these larger versions, but the US has exclusive variants like Big Cup with Reese's Pieces inside and Big Cup with Pretzels.

Reese's Thins

The thinner, crispier version is available in both markets with similar formulation differences to standard cups.

Final Thoughts: The Great Reese's Debate

After spending what my colleagues describe as "an unhealthy amount of time" comparing these two products, I've come to appreciate both for different reasons.

The UK version is genuinely a well-crafted product. It's smoother, more accessible, and perfectly tuned for British preferences. If Reese's had launched here with the American formula, I'm not sure it would have achieved the same success.

But there's something about the American original—that slightly funky, tangy, undeniably distinctive flavour—that captures the essence of what Harry Reese created in his basement nearly a century ago.

If you've never tried the American version, I'd encourage you to seek it out at least once. The experience of comparing them side-by-side is genuinely eye-opening. Just don't expect to declare a definitive winner. Like most food comparisons, it comes down to what you grew up eating—and what tastes like home.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to clear my desk of orange wrappers before anyone notices.