Which? has uncovered a selection of cheaper options which scored highly in its festive taste testing, proving shoppers can save money without compromising on taste.
1. Champagnes and sparkling wines
Shoppers can save significantly on fizz by opting for cheaper sparkling wines instead of expensive champagne. The most expensive bottle of champagne Which? tested cost £39, but in its sparkling wine test, the consumer champion found great-tasting options for as little as £8.99, a potential saving of £30 by switching to sparkling wine over expensive champagnes.
Aldi’s Specially Selected Crémant Du Jura tied in first place in the sparkling wine test, securing a Which? Best Buy endorsement. It was also one of the cheaper bottles tested costing £8.99. The panel commended it for its crisp and refreshing taste, hints of green-apple, guava and grapefruit and its smooth, creamy finish.
Another supermarket bottle that impressed the judges was the Co-op’s Irresistible Prosecco, costing only £9. The judges enjoyed its zesty aroma and notes of ripe peach, pear and jasmine. They also noted it was fresh-tasting and decent value, branding it a ‘crowd-pleasing’ choice. However, crémant is a closer match to champagne if you want a similar-tasting drink for less.
2. Red wine
While some supermarket red wines can cost more than a bottle of fizz, the Which? panel found shoppers don't have to spend a lot to get a good quality red, uncovering a Best Buy bottle for just under £8.
Aldi’s Chateau les Trois Manoirs Medoc 2019 was awarded a Best Buy and scored an impressive 77% costing £7.99 per bottle. The panel commended its smoky oak aromas, which contrasted well with notes of ripe redcurrants and a peppery finish.
3. Christmas pudding
In the Christmas pudding category, Asda’s ‘Extra Special’ Christmas Pudding stood out from the crowd and was awarded a Which? Best Buy and Great Value endorsement. Coming in just behind Which?’s overall winning pud, it received high scores for aroma and texture, with tasters enjoying its sweet smell, moistness, and great taste. It was the joint-cheapest pudding on test costing £8 (£1 per 100g) and was noted as a worthy pick if you’re after a brilliant budget pudding.
4. Brie
Which?’s expert cheese-tasting panel blind-tasted seven premium supermarket Brie de Meaux cheeses for the 2022 festive season. They tested brie from supermarkets like Asda, Aldi, M&S, Sainsbury’s and more, and uncovered a cheaper brie that impressed the judges with its well-balanced flavour: Asda’s Extra Special Brie de Meaux, £3.20 for 180g. This near-champion cheese missed the top spot but came second overall – it was marked as a solid, cheaper pick by the panel.
5. Mince pies
Which? also put mince pies to the test. Waitrose’s Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac came top for taste. However, proving paying less doesn't have to mean compromising on quality, Aldi’s mince pies also earned a Best Buy award plus Which?’s Great Value endorsement. Aldi scored an impressive 73% in Which?’s test, just a fraction behind the top-rated premium pies. As the cheapest tested, Aldi’s Specially Selected Mince Pies are almost 50% cheaper than those sold by Waitrose, costing just £1.75 for 6, or 29p per pie.
6. Baileys
Which? matched supermarket versions of Irish cream liqueur against the popular brand Baileys. While Baileys couldn’t be beaten on taste, it came in top at 76%, the panel of 72 consumers were impressed by several supermarket options and crowned a Great Value pick costing less than £8.
Aldi’s Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur scored an impressive 74% and at a mere £7.99 per bottle, a whole £8.51 cheaper than a full-price bottle of Baileys.
While its smell might not be quite as enticing as Baileys, tasters thought its appearance, flavour and mouthfeel were on a par with the branded version.
Which? only awards its Best Buy logo to those products that hit the gold standard for quality in its independent tests. The consumer champion recently launched a Great Value award for items which cost significantly less than the typical price in a category but still score well overall.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: “No one wants to overpay for festive treats, especially with so many households under huge financial strain in the run-up to this year’s Christmas.
“Our taste testers sampled festive favourites from the largest supermarkets in the UK to find out which ones will make the holiday season extra festive this year and found some great options which won’t break the bank.”
(Image courtesy of Claudia and Pixabay)
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