Who is this choice for?

People preparing afternoon tea

If you want to plan on one each without having to cut a brioche, the stated portion sizes of 35 g for Harrys Mini Tressée and 40 g for Brioche Pasquier Briochettes give you two clear reference points.

Older people with a small appetite

Brioche can be part of afternoon tea, but it won’t by itself address a loss of appetite or weight. Manger Bouger advises speaking to a doctor if weight loss occurs.

People who have difficulty chewing or swallowing

A small size and the description ‘soft’ aren’t enough to tell you whether a brioche is suitable. Assurance Maladie recommends discussing chewing or swallowing difficulties with a dentist.

What should you look for?

When planning afternoon tea, start with the person’s main needs, then compare the portion weight, nutritional information and the texture they can manage.

Criterion What to check Who is it for?
Easy-to-count portion The weight of each piece and how many you plan to serve. Harrys lists its Mini Tressée at 35 g each; Brioche Pasquier lists each Briochette at 40 g. I want to serve a set amount without cutting a large brioche; around 40% of consumers would make an easy-to-identify portion their priority.
What to serve with afternoon tea Sugars and other nutritional values per 100 g and per portion, as well as the amount actually served. If someone’s appetite is waning, I want to consider the whole afternoon tea rather than choose brioche based on its size alone; composition would be the main concern for around 40% of consumers.
Chewing and swallowing Whether the person can manage an ordinary texture, and any guidance on an adapted texture before serving the product. If chewing or swallowing becomes difficult, I need to check whether ordinary brioche is suitable; around 20% of consumers would put this check first.

Points to bear in mind

  • Assuming a mini size determines the portion

    One piece gives you a useful guide, but serving several changes the portion. Harrys Mini Tressée weighs 35 g each, while a Brioche Pasquier Briochette is a 40 g portion.

    Decide how many pieces to serve before afternoon tea and put them on a plate.

  • Relying on brioche alone if someone has lost their appetite

    Choosing a brioche won’t address weight loss. Manger Bouger says that a piece of fruit or a dairy product missed at mealtime can be eaten at afternoon tea. It recommends speaking to a doctor if someone loses 2 kg in one month or 4 kg in six months.

    If someone’s appetite or weight is falling, ask the healthcare professional looking after them for advice rather than simply changing the brioche.

  • Assuming ‘soft’ means the texture is suitable

    Haute Autorité de Santé highlights the potential seriousness of food going down the wrong way. Describing a brioche as soft isn’t enough to establish that it’s suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties.

    If someone coughs during meals, food goes down the wrong way or they have been advised to follow a modified-texture diet, ask a healthcare professional before serving ordinary brioche.

  • Overlooking the recipe and allergens

    The products reviewed don’t all contain the same ingredients. The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes states that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised on the labels of prepacked foods.

    Check the ingredients list and allergens on the product you buy, even if you already know the brand.

Brands to know

Harrys

Harrys describes its Mini Tressée au sucre perlé as a soft, individual brioche weighing 35 g.

  • The format lets you serve one without cutting; Auchan lists 127 kcal and 6.1 g of sugars per piece for the product reviewed.
  • Serving several pieces changes the amount eaten. Harrys’ less sugary sliced brioche is another option, but you’ll need to portion it yourself.

Brioche Pasquier

Briochettes come in stated individual portions of 40 g, and can be served on their own or with an accompaniment chosen separately.

  • Brioche Pasquier lists 143 kcal, 4.2 g of sugars and 3.1 g of protein per 40 g portion.
  • The brand’s Brioche Tranchée -30 % de sucres contains 8.8 g of sugars per 100 g, but you’ll need to decide how many slices to serve.

La Fournée Dorée

Mini Brioch’Burgers are brioche-style rolls to fill, rather than sweet brioche ready to serve.

  • The pack shown by Auchan contains 10 pieces weighing 200 g in total, which works out at 20 g each if divided evenly.
  • You’ll need to choose and prepare a filling; the nutritional information for the plain roll doesn’t reflect the finished afternoon tea once it’s filled.

A bite-sized option on Joybuy

These filled brioche bites are an option for a savoury afternoon tea you prepare yourself, if you want to count the pieces you serve. They aren’t sweet mini brioches ready to eat.

ERHARD brioche bites with ham and Emmental, pack of 9

ERHARD ham and Emmental brioche bites, 9 pieces, 115 g

Worth considering if you want to serve a set number of savoury bites rather than sweet brioche. The pack contains 9 pieces weighing 115 g in total; check the weight per bite on the packaging if the individual amount matters to you. The product should be kept frozen and needs to be oven-cooked. If someone has difficulty chewing or swallowing, ask for appropriate advice before serving it.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is one mini brioche enough for afternoon tea if an older person has a small appetite?

Not necessarily: afternoon tea should be considered as part of everything the person eats. Manger Bouger suggests having a piece of fruit or a dairy product at afternoon tea if it was left uneaten at mealtime because of a lack of appetite. Any weight loss of 2 kg in one month or 4 kg in six months should be reported to a doctor.

Is the mini format suitable for someone who has difficulty swallowing?

The mini format alone doesn’t tell you whether the texture is suitable. Assurance Maladie recommends discussing chewing or swallowing difficulties with a dentist. If a modified texture has been prescribed or food goes down the wrong way, ask a healthcare professional before serving ordinary brioche.

Does ‘less sugary’ brioche mean you don’t need to check the portion?

No. Brioche Pasquier lists 8.8 g of sugars per 100 g and 2.8 g per stated 32 g portion of its Brioche Tranchée -30 % de sucres. Also consider how much you’ll actually serve: a whole slice, part of a slice or several slices are not the same portion.

What should you read on the packaging of prepacked brioche?

Check the ingredients list, allergens, net quantity and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. The Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes states that this information appears on prepacked food labels and that allergenic ingredients must be emphasised.