Reviews & tasting notes of mince pies in the UK
Overall Rating: 6/10
Review: Aldi have had a mixed showing the last few years. They tend to release a raft of mince pies of all types – and the specially selected range usually score well. However, this is a classic mince pie from that range and whilst it’s nice to look at – it’s disappointingly bland.
Overall rating: 9/10
Review: They may have dropped the ball with the salted caramel mince pie (4/10), but this sloe gin mince ‘tart’ is amazing.
It’s not really a mince pie, you can tell that by the name, but if you want something a bit different for Christmas – this could be the one.
There’s a hint of sweet mincemeat in there, a light hint of sloe gin – and the rest is great too – the pastry is soft and the glaze on top is sweet. A sprinkle of almonds on top finishes things off.
Really impressive Aldi. Some of my favourite this year for sure.
Overall rating: 9/10
Review: The King is dead, long live the King. So very close from Co-op…last year’s 10/10 mince pie has slipped one point to 9/10. It’s just not as good as the ASDA Extra Special deep filled pie.
The pie pastry is still sweet and biscuit-like but it’s too thick. So very slightly too thick. It’s a bit of a task to chomp through the (not so) little bugger. The mincemeat is sweat and full of whole fruity bits – it’s sweat and has a hint of brandy to it. But the taste of the mincemeat isn’t as good as the ASDA pie.
That’s not to say this isn’t nice – it’s a really great mince pie…it’s just not a 10 anymore. Maybe next year Co-op.
Overall rating: 10/10
Review: It took me longer to find a 10 last year, I think we were well into December, but ASDA have sneaked up on me this time and created a beauty.
These come in a pack of 4 and bear a striking resemblance to the Co-op pies that scored 10/10 in 2017 (although they only came in a meagre 2 pack!).
First impressions are that they’re really deep – huge in fact (I think an inch deep). And the pastry is short, sweet and almost biscuit-like, all without being too dry and crumbly. A hard task indeed. The mincemeat is great too – still coarse but moist too with lots of tasty fruit and a good swig of brandy as well.
All topped with a light sprinkle of icing sugar. What a great mince pie ASDA, well done!
These will be in the house at Christmas – guaranteed.
Overall rating: 9.5/10
Review: Blimey. This is a cracker.
Remember the Co-op 10/10 from 2017? This is the closest I’ve found in 2018. Surprised to find it at Lidl to be honest – the box hides the delights inside, that could be improved for next year TBH (but it doesn’t matter at all on the taste front).
They’ve got a lovely pastry – solid enough to hold but still a great crumble, nicely sweet too. This has been the downfall of so many this year so far.
Mincemeat is great as well – it’s full of spiced fruit – not too wet, not too dry – and nicely tinged with cognac that makes itself known, but doesn’t overpower. Overall it’s sweet and fruity with a near-perfect pastry. It’ll take some beating.
Overall rating: 8/10
Review: Lidl is coming on strong in 2018 and their standard mince pie is a great little offering. So much value here too – it’s a pack of 12, not 6!
Nice shortcrust pasty on this one, sweet and just a nice bit of crumble. The mincemeat is really nice too – may be very slightly too ‘wet’ bit it has a lovely taste and plenty of fruit.
If you’re looking for a ‘volume’ pie – if you maybe have a load of visitors due over the Xmas period – then this is a great option. Bravo Lidl.
Overall rating: 4/10
Review: This probably sounded like a good idea in a product development meeting. It’s not. They’re neither a mince pie, nor salted caramel. It’s a horrible mix of the two that I would urge you to avoid. It’s easy to get carried away on the salted caramel bandwagon…Aldi need to get off. The pastry is terribly pale too…insult to injury.
Overall rating: 9/10
Review: This is a first for me – a cookie with mince pie flavour. And it’s good, really good.
The cookies are just what you’d want in consistency – firm enough to hold but nice and soft when you bite into them.
I know you’re only interested to hear about the taste though – and they do taste like mince pies. They’re full of sultanas and raisins which does help – and if I’m being honest you do get a little hint of them being ‘gingerbread-y’. But overall, in this alternate category, they’re the clear winner.
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Review: I’m not sure if it says more about this mince pie, or the Taste the Difference pie – but this 7.5/10 score is decent.
A nice pastry, maybe slightly soggy on the bottom, but forgivable at this price point. The mincemeat is quite standard but tasty – all the right things in the right place. Higher marks would’ve been achieved by a firmer mincemeat – slightly more filling and a sweeter pastry with no soggy bottom. A decent pie to bring out on Boxing Day.
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Review: Whilst being one of the most impressive looking mince pies of the season, the Sainsbury’s flagship pie falls flat.
Probably a matter of form over function – and that probably works for them. Most people aren’t opening their 10th box of mince pies on November 9th…they go to their supermarket of choice and pick a fancy box. Don’t…well not if you shop at Sainsbury’s.
This pie isn’t terrible – but as this is their pricey offering it needs to be better. The filling is the main culprit. The after taste is almost chemical…it’s odd, I can’t put my finger on it but I don’t like it. The pastry is far too smooth and pale – verging on undercooked. Not one I’d be happy to see on a plate at Xmas.
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