Waitrose & Partners shoppers are set for a surprise this Easter as the art of illusion is a playful theme in this year's Easter selection, including a new addition from the master of food illusion himself, Heston Blumenthal.

From chocolate hen's eggs that might initially have you reaching for an egg cup or poaching pod, to a Spring Lemon almost indistinguishable from the fruit itself, the range is full of surprises. 

The master of irresistible invention, Heston Blumenthal is back with his new Eggstraordinary Chocolate Hen's Eggs. These might look like they could be enjoyed on toast, but on closer inspection the eggs have been created from white chocolate and  house a soft two-tone banoffee centre, with layers of fresh banana purée ganache and dark chocolate caramel ganache.

Continuing with the theme of illusion, the Spring Lemon – complete with a leaf as if it's just been plucked from a tree – looks like it's ready to be sliced and squeezed. A surprising Easter treat, zesty lemon flavours fuse with smooth and creamy white chocolate for a unique sweet, yet citrusy flavour.

For a grown-up upgrade to a traditional Easter Egg hunt, the Heston from Waitrose Eggstraordinary Speckled Eggs are back by popular demand. At first sight, these blue speckled mini eggs might not look like anything out of the ordinary, however chocoholics will be delighted to find a delicious fleur de sel caramel filling.

Kate Kind, Confectionery Product Developer for Waitrose & Partners, comments: “This Easter we're offering shoppers our most playful and colourful creations to date. In this year's collection, we've focused on the art of illusion - a play on the unexpected, and  the trend for fruity confectionery. We hope that shoppers will have as much fun tasting these treats as we had creating them.”

Other Easter showstoppers include the irresistible hand decorated Squiggle Eggs, available in three delicious flavours including Dark Chocolate and Orange, White Chocolate with Raspberry and Milk Chocolate with Salted Caramel. Shoppers can also take a walk on the wild side with Chocolate Animals; a White Chocolate Elephant and Milk Chocolate Lion.

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For more information please contact the Waitrose press office on Waitrose@z-pr.com or 020 7287 5006

Information and prices correct at time of release.  Waitrose customer enquiry number is 0800 188 884.