Good Housekeeping has revealed the results of its hotly anticipated Christmas Taste Test, with Marks & Spencer taking home the most wins.
The British retailer scooped first place in four categories, including Mince Pies with a Twist, Bottled Cocktails, Dessert Centrepieces and Yule Logs — making it a clear favourite for sweet treats.
Experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute tasted a total of 470 products from 75 retailers across 16 categories, including Prosecco, yule logs and mince pies.
The prize for best turkey went to online meat retailer Pipers Farm, specialists in grass-fed and free-range meat.
Good Housekeeping has revealed the results of its hotly anticipated Christmas Taste Test. The prize for best turkey went to online meat retailer Pipers Farm (pictured, its whole turkey)
Meat-free feast: COOK’s Portobello Mushroom Wellington, £10 won the Meat-Free Main category, with its winning combination of creamy garlic mushrooms in buttery puff pastry
Its Pipers Farm Free Range Bronze Turkey, £16.30 per kilo, turkey was given 81/100 in the Whole Turkey category, while its faff-free crown, Pipers Farm Properly Free Turkey Crown, from £71, scored 76/100 in the Turkey Crown category.
Pigs in Blankets are a traditional family favourite, and this year’s crown goes to Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Truffle Pigs in Blankets, £3.50 for 210g, which scored 84/100 and was praised for its ultra-decadent, premium flavour.
Smoked Salmon remains a popular Christmas staple, and this year London Smoke & Cure’s Sashimi-Grade Smoked Salmon, £14.95 for 200g sold through its website online, was the winner scoring 78/100. Tesco’s Finest Scottish Smoked Salmon, £4.80 for 120g was a close second scoring 77/100.
As more people move towards a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, there is huge demand for meat-free mains.
Pop the bubbles! Waitrose won best own-brand Champagne with its £23.99 bottle
COOK’s Portobello Mushroom Wellington, £10 proved most popular in the Meat-Free Main category, scoring 82/100 with its winning combination of creamy garlic mushrooms in buttery puff pastry.
For a fully plant-based feast, Morrisons Vegan Vegetable Wellington, £5 for 460g and Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen No Turkey Roast Crown, £5 for 500g, were the highest rated fully vegan options within this category, both scoring 78/100.
The perfect mince pie is always up for debate, but Good Housekeeping handed the accolade to Betty’s, of the Yorkshire tea room fame.
The company’s Classic Mince Pies, £13.75 for 12, were awarded 84/100 and took home the top spot in the mince pies category, while its Betty’s Speciality Mince Pies, £16.75 for 12 (86/100), won second place in the specialty mince pies category.
For the second year running, Waitrose is the best supermarket for own-label Champagne, with its Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Champagne, £23.99, impressing the panel with its smooth bubbles and beautifully balanced, rich and fruity flavour, scoring 78/100.
Perrier Jouet, Champagne Grand Brut, however sold for £35.00 at Amazon, was the winner in the category, scoring 82/100 for its iconic bubbles.
Sweet treats: Harvey Nichols Classic Christmas Pudding, £9.50, left, won best Christmas pudding. Right, Betty’s Classic Mince Pies, £13.75 for 12, were awarded 84/100 and took home the top spot in the mince pies category
Shaken and stirred: M&S scooped first place in four categories, including Mince Pies with a Twist, Bottled Cocktails (pictured), Dessert Centrepieces and Yule Logs
In the Prosecco category, La Gioiosa, Prosecco DOC, £10 for 75cl sold at Majestic took the crown scoring 84/100 ,but when it came to supermarket own brand Prosecco’s Aldi won that battle, scoring 78/100 for its Aldi Prosecco DOCG Millesimato, £8.99 for 75cl.
Angela Trofymova, Head of Food & Drink Testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute said: ‘As we head towards Christmas 2021, in the hopes that it will be with more friends and family than last year’s, we really wanted to source the best-tasting products for the public.
‘We’ve made sure we haven’t missed any of the key festive favourites, as well as including new and innovative categories, ensuring consumers get the best deals, treats and drinks they can this year!’
In the quest to find the best-tasting Christmas food and drink, the Good Housekeeping Institute, together with a consumer panel, tested over 470 individual items, taking samples from 75 retailers and brands across the country.