Yahoo News I tried mince pies from Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Aldi but two brands stood out
Confession time: I love mince pies. I actually dream and almost drool over them.
I refuse to wait till Christmas to have them and will crave that sumptiously sweet mincemeat whether the ground is covered in slush or the sunshine is beating down on a summer's day.
And when December FINALLY comes round, and there are more of the beauties in the shops - I'm up those tinselly aisles looking for the best bargains quicker than you can say Norwegian Spruce.
READ MORE: I tried the Wetherspoons Christmas menu and it was missing two festive favourites
So when the idea came to do a taste test on mince pies I was the first to put up my hand. We're all perhaps starting to think about stocking up to give friends and relatives something with their panad or cuppa in coming weeks, but which brand should we be going for?
We've taken some of the legwork away for you by carrying out our own completely unscientific and shamelessly self-indulgent survey. Read on for the results...
Tesco - "6 Merry Mince Pies"
The word that came to mind when munching one of Tesco's pies was "sturdy". The pastry was certainly more doughy than the others. It actually took me a little while to finish my mouthful.
But perhaps that's a good thing as you're getting a substantial pie for your money. It's worth remembering that these six pies only cost £1.25 which was among the best value in this survey.
Indeed Tesco have the resources to do different styles of mince pies. Their "6 Snowy Mince Pies" for example (with white icing on top) cost £2.15, and Tesco's Finest Luxury Mince Pies will set you back about £3, which I think I would go for instead next time.
Price: £1.25
Verdict: 2/5
Iceland - "Iceland 6 Mince Pies"
These came in traditional packaging. A red box sprinkled with holly, Christmas tree, snowflake and gift motifs. The pastry was definitely stiffer than some rivals' products and it wasn't as light as other brands.
The mincemeat was typically delicious but it seemed slightly runnier than elsewhere. I know they also do the presumably more sophisticated variety "Iceland's Luxury 6 Butter Mince Pies" for £3, as most stores do.
So it you want that bit more pizzazz then perhaps stump up the extra £1.55 for the luxury ones. These £1.45 pies were still perfectly acceptable, albeit at the cheaper end of the market.
Price: £1.45
Verdict: 2/5
Aldi - "Holly Lane, Deep Filled Mince Pies, six pack"
The packaging was traditional but those thoughtful elves at Aldi had gone to the trouble of topping the pie with a snowflake design on the pastry. I don't know if it was because this one was the first sample I tried in this taste test but it really hit the spot.
The mincemeat tasted fresh, soft and moist and the pastry was sweet and crumbly. It was definitely a lovely choice.
It was also good to see that these ones were quite inexpensive too. They also do a "6 All New Butter Mince Pies" for £1.99 if you want to splash out a little more this Christmas.
Price: £1.25
Verdict: 3/5
Asda - "6 Yummy Mince Pies"
These are what the supermarket chain goes so far as to say are Yummy mince pies. I'd say they are satisfactory but fairly basic.
If you want your festive treats without any frills, apart from a pastry star on the top of each portion, then these are the ones for you. The pastry was firmish but not spectacular and the mincemeat was pleasant.
As with other chains' fare, these are the standard product but they also make "6 Luxury Mince Pies" in their "Exceptional" range costing £2.75. Is life too short for an average mince pie? It would be worth paying more for better.
Price: £1.30
Verdict: 3/5
Lidl - "Favorina 6 Mince Pies Deep Filled Mince Pies 6 pack"
These are nicely packaged with an inviting, well-lit photo of pies by some holly and berries. I have to say I'd never heard of Lidl's Favorina brand but thought it was worth a try.
It's at the lower price point but the turns out to be both delicate and moist. They certainly did the trick with a cup of tea.
I'd say these pies were not luxurious ones but very nice. And at £1.25 they work out at around 21p each which is probably good value.
Price: £1.25
Verdict 3/5
Tan Lan Bakery - "4 Mince Pies"
Baked by Tal Lan Bakery, these pies were being packaged and sold by Edwards the Butcher in Conwy High Street. I felt it was only right to try mince pies which didn't come from a huge, household chain to sample more of the market.
Admittedly, they were only in a four-pack, not a six-pack, and cost a lot more than the supermarket rivals. But they were so worth it - broad, buttery and belting.
Interestingly, they came in a long pack which could almost double as a wrappable present (as long as you warned the recipient the contents were delicate and edible). No other mince pies were packaged like this and there was even a slogan "It wouldn't be Christmas without these!"
Price: £4 for four pies
Verdict: 4/5
Becws Mon Bakery - "4 X 50g Mince Pies"
This is clearly another brand which is lesser known than those belonging to larger household chains. This pack of four were made by Llangefni-based bakery Becws Mon and were on sale at GH Edwards newsagents in Conwy.
The shortcrust pastry was light and lovely. This manufacturer also dusted the top of each pie with flour far more than the others in this survey did, which was a nice touch.
That said, the pie had so much pastry that as soon as I bit into it it collapsed and broke apart. Obviously, it all goes down the same way but it was a bit of a job to collect and devour the slabs of dough! Overall, it was delicious.
Price: £2.35
Verdict: 4/5
Overall the two local brands cost that little bit more but they were so worth it if you afford that extra cost.
