XMAS FOOD & DRINK TASTE TEST:
Budget stores have Christmas wrapped up with tasty food and drink bargains
POSH brands swept the board in a Christmas food and drink taste test – but budget stores gave them a very close run for your festive money.
While a fancy £2 mince pie from Costa Coffee came tops, Iceland’s bargain pack of six for £1.89 was a worthy second.
At just 31.5p per pie, the supermarket’s festive favourite scored 87 out of 100, just three points behind Costa’s offering.
Judges praised the Costa treat’s “crispy pastry and zesty citrus filling with a mixed spice flavour”.
But they said Iceland’s bargain option had “lightly spiced and perfectly sweet mincemeat ” with “a deliciously crumbly pastry”.
The Good Housekeeping Christmas taste testers tucked into 423 products, from turkey and stuffing, to puds and bubbly.
They awarded Blanc de Noirs champagne, costing £23.99 from Waitrose, top marks of 84.
Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny, at just £12.99, was runner-up with 81.
And the discounter’s Organic Prosecco for £7.99 scored 87, just losing out to Ocado’s winning
£9.99 bottle of Abbazia Fiorino Prosecco, which was awarded 90.
Marks & Spencer was named best for turkey crowns, gravy and Christmas pud and Waitrose took the cake and yule log honours.
Aldi came second in the turkey test, while organic brand Daylesford’s £ 20 pudding was the second-best dessert.
In the stuffing stakes, Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Pork, Chestnut & Bacon Parcels and Farmison & Co Free Range Pork, Plum Pudding & Apple Brandy were joint top.
For vegetarians, Lidl’s Caramelised Onion and Goat’s Cheese Tartlets for £1.69 were the tastiest meat-free mains ahead of Waitrose’s £6.99 Vegan Festive Swirls.
Alexandra Hale, from Good Housekeeping said: “We all know that this Christmas is going to be very different to last year.
“And that’s why we think the public deserve to know where to spend their hard-earned money to ensure they have the best tasting food and drink possible.”