Can own-brand mince pies beat the big brands for taste and value?
With Christmas just around the corner, many of us are looking to save money without sacrificing on festive treats. So, we decided to put supermarket mince pies to the test to see if own-brand options could rival the popular brands in terms of both quality and price.
The Test
We compared mince pies from Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Lidl with the well-known Mr Kipling's deep-filled mince pies. Each product was rated on a scale of 1 to 10 for taste and value, taking into account the price per pie and the amount of mincemeat filling.
The Verdict
Here's how the mince pies scored out of 20:
Mr Kipling Deep Filled Mince Pies
Price: £1.35 for six
Taste: 8/10
Value: 4/10
Total: 12/20
Mr Kipling's mince pies were the most expensive at 39p each. However, they had the least amount of mincemeat filling, making up only 45% of the pie. While the filling had a lovely Christmas spiced flavor, the pastry was a bit dry and powdery. They also had the highest sugar content of all the products tested. Overall, we didn't feel they were worth the extra money.
Tesco Mince Pies
Price: £1.25 for six
Taste: 6/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 14/20
Tesco's mince pies had a festive, spiced citrus peel taste but were a little too sweet. At 21p per pie, they were nearly half the price of Mr Kipling's and contained 49% mincemeat, more than the branded version.
Asda Mince Pies
Price: £1.25 for six
Taste: 5/10
Value: 7/10
Total: 12/20
The Asda mince pies didn't impress with their gluey, stodgy pastry. Although they contained 49% mincemeat, there wasn't much fruit in the filling, which was gloopy and sticky. Despite being as cheap as Tesco and Lidl's options, we didn't think they compared.
Morrisons Mince Pies (The Winner!)
Price: £1.45 for six
Taste: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Total: 15/20
Morrisons' mince pies had a truly Christmassy spiced taste, with plenty of fruit and citrus peel in the filling. The pastry was just right, neither too dry nor stodgy. Although the mincemeat content wasn't declared on the packaging, they were still nearly 40% cheaper than Mr Kipling's pies at 24p each.
Sainsbury's Mince Pies
Price: £1.60 for six
Taste: 8/10
Value: 5/10
Total: 13/20
Sainsbury's mince pies had a great tasting filling with lots of citrus and fruit. However, the 46% mincemeat content was the lowest among the supermarket brands. Despite being just as good as Morrisons' pies, they were more expensive at 27p each.
Aldi Holly Lane Mince Pies
Price: £1.25 for six
Taste: 4/10
Value: 7/10
Total: 11/20
Aldi's mince pies were disappointing, with a gloopy, thin filling that had a burnt aftertaste. Although they contained the most mincemeat at 50% of the pie, it lacked fruit. They didn't live up to the taste of Tesco or Lidl's mince pies, which were the same price at 21p each.
Lidl Favorina Mince Pies
Price: £1.25 for six
Taste: 6/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 14/20
Like Tesco and Asda, Lidl's mince pies contained 49% mincemeat. The filling had a strong raisin flavor and was nicely spiced, although lacking in citrus. The pastry was a bit chewy. Overall, they were decent mince pies for the price at just 21p each.
In conclusion, Morrisons' mince pies were the clear winner in terms of taste and value, providing a truly festive experience without breaking the bank. However, Tesco and Lidl's options also fared well and could be a good choice for those looking to save some money this Christmas.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://hellofaread.com/money/save-money-on-your-shopping-with-yellow-sticker-bargains-the-best-times-to-visit-supermarkets/
