An expert Which? taste test panel has awarded two coveted Best
Buy recommendations to mince pies this year, including one top
pick that works out at just 29p per pie.
Winning the top spot in the rigorous blind tasting was Waitrose’s
Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac. They received a
distinguished 74 per cent rating, earning themselves a Which?
Best Buy recommendation and wowing the panel with their ‘buttery
aroma’ and ‘citrussy aftertaste’. At £3.50 for six, or 58p per
pie, the panel also noted that the almonds and chunks of fruit
provided plenty of texture and praised their ‘home-made’ quality.
Hot on Waitrose’s heels and proving that paying less does not
have to mean compromising quality, Aldi’s mince pies also earned
a Best Buy award - as well as Which?’s Great Value endorsement.
They scored an impressive 73 per percent, just a fraction behind
the top-rated premium pies. As the cheapest tested, Aldi’s
Specially Selected Mince Pies are 50 per cent cheaper than those
sold by Waitrose, costing just £1.75 for 6, or 29p per pie.
The Which? panel of baking experts - including Great British Bake
Off 2021 semi-finalist Jürgen Krauss, food writer Dan Lepard and
French pastry chef Nathan Rave - rated each pie on its taste,
aroma, texture and appearance.
Which? only awards its Best Buy logo to those products that hit
the gold standard for quality in its independent tests. The
consumer champion recently launched a ‘Great Value’ award for
items which cost much less than the typical price in a category
but still score impressively well overall.
Despite not reaching Which?’s Best Buy benchmark, other
supermarkets also delivered some tempting and more affordable
options. Co-op’s Irresistible All Butter Pastry Luxury Mince Pies
(£2.25 for 6), did not disappoint when it came to their ‘buttery
aroma’. On the other hand, there was feedback that alcohol
dominated the flavour.
Although Asda’s Extra Special Mince Pies (£2.50 for 6) were not
ranked the best in the taste test, they were also considered a
tasty option and the judges commended their enticing, festive
design and well-balanced flavour.
Some mince pies were less impressive. For example, Morrisons’ The
Best and Tesco’s Finest mince pies did not stand out from the
crowd when it came to the taste test and came bottom of the
rankings.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services,
said:
“There’s nothing quite like a deliciously warm and crumbly mince
pie straight from the oven
to get you in the festive spirit. The competition was tight this
year but the luxury mince pie offerings from Waitrose and Aldi
have come out on top.
“Our experts tasted pies from the biggest supermarkets in the UK
to find out which ones will make the holiday season extra festive
this year and found some great options which won’t break the
bank.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
-
The Which? expert judging panel comprised of three baking
specialists, including:
Dan Lepard: food writer, broadcaster and award-winning
baker.
Jürgen Krauss: Passionate home baker and Great British Bake
Off 2021 semi-finalist.
Nathan Rave: French pastry chef and Bake Off: The
Professionals 2022 winner
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Prices are correct as of October 2022.
