Yahoo News Christmas taste test: where to buy the best mince pies on the high street?
Tested by Richard Bertinet, renowned baker whose Bath HQ hosts cookery classes and pastry courses.
"The best mince pies have a well-baked base, lovely soft filling, and pastry with a crunch. The first crunch is important – when you eat one you should want another straight away."
Tesco Finest All Butter Pastry Deep Filled with Courvoisier VS Cognac
These have a nice festive look and are generous portions, but the taste doesn’t match the appearance – there’s no definition in the fruit, it’s just a paste.
RATING: 1 out of 5
Meg Rivers Mini Frangipane
These are more like afternoon treats; it’s hard to call them mince pies. The texture is more like a muffin and it’s all almond essence and not much else.The pastry disc on the base tastes raw.
RATING: 1 out of 5
Aldi Specially Selected Exquisite
I like frangipane, which this has on top, but this version is not good.The almond essence is too strong (it overpowers everything) and the mincemeat is mushy and far too sweet.
RATING: 1 out of 5
Betty’s Classic
A very sweet and gooey mincemeat that’s missing the nice explosion of flavour you get from distinct fruit.The pastry star looks quite childlike – I would prefer the filling to be covered more fully.
RATING: 2 out of 5
Lidl Deluxe Luxury
Nice colour on the pastry. It tastes a bit like shortbread, which isn’t a bad thing, but it’s let down by the filling – the cinnamon is overpowering. It tastes more like a cinnamon roll.
RATING: 2 out of 5
Asda Extra Special Luxury All-Butter
The pastry is very bland, it needs salt, and the fat coats the mouth. The filling is nicer, a generous amount, with apple, too, but it’s slightly acidic. I would like more alcohol.
RATING: 2.5 out of 5
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference All Butter
These look too big, they’re like hamburgers! The pastry, though, is nice and crunchy, with a buttery flavour. There’s a good base of currants and raisins, but it needs something to cut through the sweet and sticky paste.
RATING: 3 out of 5
M&S Collection
These are attractive and shallow, like tartlets. I like that.The pastry is very soft, a bit mushy and sandy, although it has a good, buttery flavour. A lovely orange taste, perhaps from the alcohol, which lifts the flavour.
RATING: 3.5 out of 5
Morrisons The Best All Butter
Well baked, slightly crumbly, with distinct fruit that’s slightly sweet. The mincemeat seems very well made but I’d love more booze in there – rum, brandy, Grand Marnier perhaps.
RATING: 4 out of 5
Co-op Irresistible
Golden, crispy yet buttery pastry, and the mincemeat has a good taste of apple, lending an acidity that cuts through the fat nicely. A glossy, celebratory filling with a great flavour.
RATING: 5 out of 5
