Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Hot Cross Bun Strangeness!

Last week I picked up some hot cross buns from a small independent baker. Got home, cut one in half, popped it in the toaster, lightly toasted, put some butter on it and took a bite...

...as soon as I bit into it, I remembered buying the same buns last year and that I didn't like them... they have a faint smell of petrol or perhaps a whiff of chemicals.

Chalking it down to something the baker was doing, I purchased some from good old M&S and Sainsburys... all good, no issues.

However, today, I had a hot cross bun from Gail's and it had exactly the same flavour, a faint chemical almost petrol-like wiff. If I was being pretentious, I would say it was akin to tasting wine and that you get more of a flavour profile when pulling air into your mouth whilst having the wine, or in this case, hot cross bun in your mouth.

Now, before anyone says I'm going mad (which is fair and reasonable), on both occasions, I had someone independent taste the buns and they said the same thing, without being prompted.

Has anyone else noticed this? I can't work out what the spice/flavour profile would be but it isn't pleasant.

I recall some caramel flavoured hot cross buns likely purchased in error that just didn't work for me Simon. Main reason was lack of currants although it left me feeling this variant was a marketing experiment gone wrong and the taster, if ever there was one, was not of our world.

I've just had a Morrison's Mega Loaf, Hot Cross Bun flavout and it was quite pleasant. Not a true bun flavour but pleasant nevertheless.

They are experimenting here too, purchased some last year that looked good only to find no currants, then was given some with chocolate in -which overpowered all the good flavours, perhaps it is my age but I just want the traditional version-will try an award winning lot this weekend at a local bakery that we pedal past on a Saturday morning -no doubt they will be the dearest in the country, I will report back ..

Think the problem is the liquid bun spice used nowadays.
I always used mixed spice but suppose today the price is not economical to use.
Surprised at Gails as they must be the most expensive .
Also some bakers use the liquid spice mixture on the top to make the shine.
I only used sugar mix.
liquid bun spice essence, often used for flavouring hot cross buns and other baked goods, typically contains ethyl alcohol (ethanol) as a key ingredient. the ethanol should be baked out but maybe if they use it after baking for glazing it will present !
I agree with all these different types of flavourings some are strange.Rhubarb and custard flavoured buns !

Why don't you ask them ?

Watched a progamm the other night on how they make them and it seems the same factory is making for most supermarkets.

Interesting! I think you may be on to something because I notice it varied from bun to bun. If it was in the mixture itself, I would imagine it would be constant but with the Gails buns, some were far worse than others, which would lean me towards different levels of glazing on each bun.

I definitely think you're onto something there! Thank you


With Gails that would be almost pointless! In my experience, they have gone from a reasonable bakers to the McDonalds/Starbucks of the baking world, with the level of apathetic staff to match. It is a shame because early shops were actually quite both in terms of service and product.

As for the other baker, the independent - I will but he is a young lad, starting out, and has only been baking (like so many!) since Covid. He has a little pop up shop (two days a week) and if he's alone, with no other customers in earshot, I'll ask but I don't want to do it when he'd busy, which (thankfully for him) he almost always is

No hot cross buns in Italy.



The Colomba is a dove shaped sweet loaf, not really cake or bread but something between, that has candied peel and is garnished with sugar and almonds. I have one on the table in front of me now 😋 😋 😋

I’ve tried that Peter, and it is lovely. Quite possibly about to offend the Italian nation BUT, it seems not dissimilar to the panettone sold at Christmas (which I also like!)

When I see something from that company it is hard to control the”reach out and grab one” reflex. There is a great Italian wholesaler in the back of Maidenhead which always has them. Bad for the diet/sugar levels but offset by the you only live once so make it worth it.

Maria used to send me on a hunt for them around all the holidays for Mazilla (her Italian mother)

The lemon and lime one is wonderful with a good sharp coffee.