Mince pies are easy to come by in supermarkets at this time of year, all with varying fillings, pastries and price points.
The “all-butter” shortcrust variety is undoubtedly the most popular on the market but it’s hard to tell which ones deliver on taste and texture by looking at the packaging alone.
That’s why Which?, the consumer champion, put supermarket “premium” mince pies to the test with a panel made up of four baking experts.
Great British Bake Off 2021 semi-finalist Jürgen Krauss, award-winning baker and food writer Dan Lepard, Bake Off: The Professionals 2022 winner Nathan Rave and pastry chef and author Shaheen Peerbhai all judged the shop-bought pies on their taste and value for money, crowning one retailer the winner.
But while many people may believe price equates to better quality, Britons may be shocked to know the leading mince pies sell for just 46p per portion.
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The panel judged a range of upper-crust pie ranges including Tesco Finest, and Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference which were pegged against alternatives by Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and other retailers.
Co-op’s Irresistible Luxury Mince Pies received a distinguished 73 percent rating in the blind taste test, earning themselves a Which? Best Buy recommendation.
According to the consumer champion, the panel were “wowed” by the “buttery pastry and sweet glossy filling”.
At £2.75 for six, or 46p per pie, the panel also commented on the generous filling-to-pastry ratio, making for an almost perfect mince pie.
Tesco Finest Mince Pies also earned a Best Buy award with an impressive overall score of 72 percent. At just a fraction behind the top-rated premium pies, the Tesco products won judges over for their “festive citrus zing and pleasant, well balanced flavours”.
At £3 for six or 50p per pie, they are slightly more expensive than Co-op, but still deliver on taste.
Despite the other contenders failing to gain a Which? Best Buy recommendation, many delivered on taste and budget-friendliness.
The cheapest on test this year was Aldi’s Specially Selected Mince Pies at £2.19 for six. Costing just 37p per pie, they are ideal for those looking to keep costs down.
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The best mince pies for 2023
- Co-op’s Irresistible Luxury Mince Pies (£2.75 for six)
- Tesco Finest Mince Pies (£3 for six)
- Aldi’s Specially Selected Mince Pies (£2.19 for six)
- Iceland’s Luxury All Butter Mince Pies (£2.50 for six)
- Lidl’s Deluxe Luxury Mince Pies (£2.49 for six)
- Asda Extra Special Brown Butter and Rum pies (£2.75 for six)
- Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference pies (£2.75 for six)
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