Budget mince pies from Spar costing £2 a box took the top spot in this year’s edition of the BBC Good Food Christmas Supermarket Taste Test Awards.
The yearly taste test crowns the best products on offer in British supermarkets ahead of the festive season.
This year, 13 supermarkets entered 175 products spanning 23 categories, which were blind-tasted by a panel of experts including Christine Hayes, BBC Good Food’s editor-in-chief and chef Liberty Mendez.
This year, Spar was the winner in the Best Classic Mince Pies category, while M&S’ £45 turkey joint won the Best Turkey Centrepiece category.
M&S and Waitrose were the joint overall winners of this year’s taste test, taking home six wins each.
Budget-friendly supermarkets also performed well, with Asda and Lidl both taking home two wins each.
BBC Good Food has revealed the 2021 winners of its Christmas Supermarket Taste Test Awards, which lists the best Christmas treats British stores have on offer this year, pictured: the winners of the dessert category
In total, 13 supermarkets submitted 175 products over 23 categories. M&S and Waitrose were the overall winners, with six wins each. Pictured: the main dishes and side dishes category
Christine Hayes, said: ‘There is so much anticipation for Christmas this year, and we know that people are keen to plan ahead for long-awaited get-togethers.
‘Our team of BBC Good Food expert tasters started their rigorous, impartial testing in August to create this guide to the best the supermarkets have to offer – we hope it helps ensure everyone’s “Christmas at ours” is as memorable and celebratory as it can be,’ she added.
From entrees to dessert, scroll down for the definite list of 2021’s best Christmas foods on offer.
BEST TURKEY CENTREPIECE
M&S’s Perfect Turkey Joint, £45 (2kg) won the best turkey centrepiece categories, with judges commending its moist meat and
Winner: M&S The Perfect Turkey Joint, £45 (2kg)
Judges noted how the meat stays moist even when cold, which makes it perfect for Boxing Day leftovers, and liked the crisp bacon on top.
They found the stuffing peppery and well-seasoned, and said it adds a lot of flavour.
Highly Commended: Booths Ultimate Turkey Feast
The judging panel liked the contrast of the breast meat with the rolled leg, and noted its aniseed flavour.
BEST MINCE PIES
The judging panel were impressed with Spar’s £2 pies’ open top, which is not burnt, and said the treats are well-spiced and buttery, pictured right
Winner: Spar luxury mince pies, £2 (330g)
The judging panel were impressed with the pies’ open top, which is golden not burnt, and said the treats are well-spiced and buttery.
BEST YULE LOG
The judging panel gave the win to Booth’s £20 festive yule cake, which they said is a great twist on the traditional yule log
Winner: Booths festive yule cake, £20 (1.75kg)
Judges noted this layer cake was a ‘crowd-pleasing twist’ on a classic yule log. They liked the dense sponge and rich chocolate icing.
Highly Commended 1: Iceland Luxury Ultimate Chocolate Log, (775g, £8)
Iceland’s frozen yule log, which costs £12 less than the Booths’ entry was a close second chose. with the rich chocolate frosting and the deep dark chocolate flavour.
Highly Commended 2: Waitrose chocolate yule log, £10, (825g)
This cream-filled log was also a crowd pleaser with the judging panel, thanks to the contrast of its dark sponge with its lighter sponge.
Judges liked that this entry is fluffy and easy to slice.
BEST SMOKED SALMON
Sainsbury’s £4.45 Taste the Difference bucks fizz smoked salmon, pictured, won the best smoked salmon category
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference bucks fizz smoked salmon, £4.45 (200g)
The judging panel liked the firm texture of Sainsbury’s salmon, its smoky taste and its festive sparkle finish.
Highly Commended: Morrisons Best Triple Smoked Scottish Salmon, £6 (300g)
This extra smoky salmon taste ‘high quality’ and pleased the panel with a well-balance texture, which judges noted not too oily or fatty.
BEST VEGAN MEAL
Lid’s Deluxe showstopper garland, which costs £3,99, won the vegan meal category thanks to its crisp and flaky pastry
Winner: Lidl Deluxe showstopper garland, £3.99 (500g)
The panel was won over by the meal’s crisp and flaky pastry and the well-seasoned mushroom filling. They noted the dried fruit in the mix added some sweetness to the meal.
Highly Commended: Iceland Luxury Festive Roast, £2.50
Enthusiastic judge said the Iceland entry ‘tasted almost homemade,’ with a touch of sweetness, and noted each vegetable could be tasted in the dish, with just the right level of spices.
BEST VEGETARIAN MEAL
Waitrose came first in the Vegetarian meal category thanks to its ‘special’ mushroom, cavolo nero and mascarpone parcels, which work with all sorts of dishes, according to the judging panel
Winner: Waitrose mushroom, cavolo nero and mascarpone parcels, £6.99 (300g)
Judges loved how special the individual filo parcels look and how easy they are to serve. They liked the cheese sauce and said the cavalo nero is ‘perfectly cooked.’
They added the treats could work with all sorts of side dishes.
BEST PANETTONE
Morrisons’ £7 The Best Panettone won the category, thanks to its shiny crust and notes of vanilla and citrus. Judges noted it wasn’t too boozy
Winner: Morrisons The Best panettone, £7 (750g)
The judging panel said Morrison’s entry is ‘appealing’ and is not too sweet.
They like its shiny crust and noted it has just a splash of booze and that the notes of vanilla and citrus come through.
Highly commended: Aldi Specially Selected Panettone (Chocolate), £2.49 (750g)
Judges noted Aldi’s entry was a sweeter version of a classic panettone. They liked its texture and salted-butter flavour, as well as its dark chocolate chunks.