CONSUMERS seeking the finest mince pies and bargain prosecco this Christmas should head to the discounters Iceland and Lidl, according to an annual taste test.
Lidl's £5.29 Allini Prosecco Spumante has been voted best bargain prosecco in Good Housekeeping's December edition, while Iceland's six Luxury Mince Pies - costing £1.50 - beat 24 other brands including Harrods and Selfridges for their "juicy mincemeat" and "lovely crisp and buttery pastry case".
The blind taste tests also found Iceland's £4.95 a kg Luxury British Whole Brined Turkey with Orange & Thyme Butter to be top of its class, as was its Luxury Outdoor Bred Pork, Honey and Rosemary Parcels stuffing at £3 for 300g.
However, Marks & Spencer took top placing in the Christmas pudding category with its £12 The Collection Belgian Chocolate & Orange Star Christmas Pudding for its "delicious twist on a traditional pud", although it only just beat Iceland's £6 Luxury 12-month Matured Christmas Pudding.
M&S also appeared most frequently in the survey, making the top five in 10 of the 12 categories, and winning the Stilton and mulled wine tests.
Ocado.com's £19.99 Champagne Faubert Brut NV was best in its category.
MINCE PIES Winner: Iceland 6 Luxury Mince Pies, £1.50 for 6 (scored 84/100) Runner up: Spar Luxury Mince Pies, £2 for 6 (83/100) Best of the rest: Betty’s Classic Mince Pies, £10 for 12 (75/100)
SPARKLING WINE Winner: Wm Morrison Prosecco Spumante, £8.25, Morrisons (81/100) Runner up: Allini Prosecco Spumante, £5.29, Lidl (80/100) Best of the rest: Abbazia Fiorino Prosecco DOC, £8.99, Ocado.com (79/100)
CHAMPAGNE Winner: Champagne Faubert Brut NV £19.99 Ocado.com (82/100) Joint runners up: Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve NV, £26.99, Waitrose (80/100) Veuve Clicquot Brut NV £39.99, Majestic (80/100) The Society’s Champagne Brut NV £28, The Wine Society (80/100) Pol Roger Brut NV £39.99 Waitrose (80/100) Waitrose Brut NV £18.99, Waitrose (80/100)
CHRISTMAS PUDDING Winner: Marks & Spencer The Collection Belgian Chocolate & Orange Star Christmas Pudding, £12 for 907g (77/100) Runner up: Iceland Luxury 12-month Matured Christmas Pudding, £6 for 454g (76/100) Best of the rest: Morrisons Jewelled Top Christmas Pudding, £4 for 454g (75/100)
Good Housekeeping consumer director Caroline Bloor said: "Our expert team and panel of consumer testers blind test an incredibly wide range of Christmas products, so we can be very confident that these results shine a light on the food and drink that tastes the best.
"Everyone loves a bargain and so it's good to see Iceland mince pies and Lidl prosecco beating more expensive upmarket brands."
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