Supermarket ASDA has been voted as the best place to buy mince pies this year, as its own-brand festive treats came out top in an annual blind taste test by Which?.
More than 100 premium mince pies were put forward for the consumer test from 11 different supermarkets, but judges found that ASDA's Extra Special offerings were the tastiest pick of the bunch.
The Christmas tarts scored an impressive 71 per cent in the taste test, being praised on their "subtle spicing". The pastry was said to have a "lovely, buttery aroma" as the mince pies came out of the oven.
ASDA's treats come in packs of six, making it just 25p per pastry pie. The expert panel score each pie out of 40 for taste, 20 for aroma, 20 for texture and 20 for appearance.
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Lidl's Deluxe Luxury Mince Pies also impressed in second place with a score of 69 per cent.
These are slightly cheaper at £1.35 for a box of six, and were praised for their "pleasantly fruity taste".
The consumer group said it felt the quality of the mince pies had dropped, which they put down to the rising costs of ingredients like dried fruit and butter. They suggested supermarkets were using cheaper, lower quality alternatives to keep prices low.
Waitrose's One All Butter Mince Pies were rated as the worst at 51 per cent, and were described as "beige-tasting" and "devoid of any notable flavours".
The pies were also the joint most-expensive of the supermarket test at £2.50 for a pack of six, although they are currently on offer at £1.25.
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"Nothing smells or tastes more festive than delicious mince pies warm from the oven," said editor of Which? Magazine Harry Rose.
"Despite concerns over falling quality in recent years, our research shows that there are still great pies on offer this year, at a range of price points."
Other retailers included in the Which? test were Aldi, Co-op, Iceland, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Spar, and Tesco.
Mince pies from premium brands were also ranked in a separate test, with Fortnum & Mason's £10.95 scoring 74 per cent.
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The pies were commended on the amount of mincemeat, being labelled a "sure fire winner".
But higher price doesn't always guarantee tastiness, as the judges said that Harrod's £9.50 mince pies were only "half-filled", "overly sweet" and left a "sour aftertaste".
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Tasty Food, Food And Drink, Asda