Exciting news for Meal Deal lovers! Tesco spreads Christmas cheer with Mini Mince Pies

As Christmas approaches, shoppers can get themselves into the Christmas spirit by adding a festive treat to their Meal Deal. 

For the first time ever, customers can pick up a two pack of Tesco Mini Mince Pies as a snack with their lunchtime Meal Deal in stores now. 

Tesco’s popular Christmas sandwiches get an extra boost with the option to select a limited-edition snack to take festive feasting at lunchtime to the next level with Mini Pork & Cranberry Pies and Pigs in Blanket Flavour Sausage Rolls alongside the Mini Mince Pies.

With millions of combinations available, the Tesco lunchtime Meal Deal is unrivalled for choice and value. Clubcard members pay just £3.40 for a main, snack and drink (£3.90 without a Clubcard).There is also an exciting new festive sandwich this year - the Tesco Festive Duo - a delicious combination of one Pigs Under Blanket Sandwich and one Chicken, Bacon & Stuffing Sandwich.

For some added luxury, customers can select a Premium Meal Deal which includes premium mains such as the limited-edition Tesco Finest Spiced Duck & Pomegranate Chutney Wrap or Tesco Finest Pigs Under Blanket Sandwich with a snack and drink from the wider Meal Deal range for only £5.00 for Clubcard holders (£5.50 without a Clubcard).

Tesco Brand Manager, Violaine Barthe, said: “We know how much people enjoy adding a festive item to their Meal Deal in the run up to Christmas, it really symbolises the start of the festive season. This year the new range of festive Meal Deal snacks, including two Mini Mince Pies for the very first time, make great additions if you want to feel Christmassy or just love traditional Christmas flavours.”

Limited Edition Christmas snacks and mains will be available as part of the lunchtime meal deal until 8th January 2024.

Festive Meal Deal Mains:

Tesco Festive Duo Sandwich (NEW)

Tesco Finest Spiced Duck & Pomegranate Chutney (Premium Main – NEW)

Tesco Finest Pigs Under Blanket Sandwich (Premium Main – NEW)

Tesco Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich

Tesco Brie & Cranberry Sandwich

Tesco Smoked Ham & Wensleydale Sandwich

Tesco Gluten Free Chicken, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce

Tesco Yule Hog Wrap

Tesco Plant Chef Bright Spiced Butternut Squash & Chestnut

Tesco Chicken Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce Sub

Festive Meal Deal Snacks:

Tesco 2 Mini Mince Pies (NEW)

Tesco Pigs in Blanket Flavour Sausage Rolls (NEW)

Tesco 2 Tesco Pork & Cranberry Pork Pies  

Fridge Raiders Chicken & Stuffing Bites 

The Delicious History of Mince Pies: A Timeless Christmas Treat

Mince pies, those delectable little pastries filled with a sweet and spicy mixture of fruits and spices, are a quintessential part of the holiday season in many parts of the world. 

Their history is a fascinating journey through time, blending cultural influences and culinary traditions. Join us as we explore the rich and mouth-watering history of mince pies.

Origins of the Name

The term "mince pie" can be somewhat misleading, as the filling of these delightful pastries doesn't actually contain minced meat in most modern versions. However, the name has its roots in medieval Britain when it was indeed common to use meat in these pies. The word "mince" in this context originally meant to chop finely, and early mince pies combined minced meat (usually beef or mutton) with fruits and spices.

Medieval Beginnings

The history of mince pies can be traced back to the 13th century when they were introduced to Europe. These early pies often featured a mixture of meat, fruits, and spices. The spices were particularly important, as they helped to preserve the meat before the advent of refrigeration. The combination of sweet and savoury ingredients symbolized unity and harmony, making mince pies a popular choice for feasts and celebrations.

Cultural Influences

Over time, mince pies evolved as various cultural influences began to shape their recipes. The Crusaders returning from the Middle East brought back exotic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, which quickly found their way into mince pie recipes. These spices not only added rich flavour but also played a significant role in masking the taste of less-than-fresh meat.

The Tudor Era

During the reign of the Tudors in England (15th to 17th centuries), mince pies continued to evolve. The addition of fruits like currants, raisins, and apples, along with those aforementioned spices, made these pies increasingly sweet and less reliant on meat. It was also during this period that the traditional shape of the mince pie, round with a top crust, was established.

Puritan Opposition

In the 17th century, mince pies faced a threat from the Puritans, who believed they were too extravagant and associated them with Catholicism. Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, banned mince pies, along with other Christmas traditions, in an attempt to promote sobriety and eliminate pagan influences. Fortunately, this ban was lifted with the restoration of the monarchy, and mince pies once again became a beloved part of the holiday season.

Modern Mince Pies

Today's mince pies, particularly here in the United Kingdom, are primarily sweet rather than savoury. The traditional filling consists of a mixture of dried fruits, suet, spices, sugar, and sometimes a bit of alcohol, such as brandy or rum. The pies are often served in small, individual sizes and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

In the United States, a close relative to the mince pie, the mincemeat pie, often includes meat, though some modern versions are entirely fruit-based, resembling the British mince pie more closely.

The history of mince pies is a testament to the enduring appeal of certain culinary traditions, despite evolving tastes and changing cultural contexts. From its humble origins as a meat-filled pie to its transformation into a sweet and spicy delight, mince pies have become an iconic symbol of the holiday season, cherished by people of all backgrounds. So, as you savour your next mince pie during the holidays, take a moment to appreciate the centuries of history that brought this delicious treat to your plate.

(Image courtesy of Anita Smith from Pixabay)

Over 20,000 free mince pies are ready for Aldi customers

Aldi is offering a special voucher to purchase up to 24 mince pies per person by simply emailing freealdimincepies@clarioncomms.co.uk

Aldi predicts over180,000 mince pies to fly from shelves in the first week of launch.

And Northerners are found to be the UK’s biggest mince pie punters

Despite Christmas still being three months away, the festive season has already arrived as Aldi’s anticipated range of delicious mince pies hit the shelves.

To celebrate the first mince pies of the season landing in stores, Aldi is giving shoppers the chance to win one of a 1,000 £5 vouchers. To be in with a chance of getting their hands on these Christmas must-haves, hopefuls should simply email their name and email address to freealdimincepies@clarioncomms.co.uk.

After the supermarket saw over seven million mince pies fly from their shelves last year, 2022, Aldi is expecting over180,000 pies to be snapped up in the first week of launch alone! Most of which are likely to be bagged in northern parts of the UK, with northern Aldi shoppers found to be the biggest mince pie fans last year.

And with prices starting at just 21p per pie, Aldi is ensuring lucky winners are fully stocked this Christmas with the free voucher equating to over 20 pies per person. With 1,000 vouchers up for grabs, this equates to 24,000 FREE mince pies!

Julie Ashfield, MD of Buying at Aldi, said: “We know mince pies are a Christmas staple for our shoppers, so we’re delighted to be able to guarantee an abundant supply for 1,000 successful winners ahead of the festive season!”

Customers can use their voucher to try Aldi’s range of mince pies landing in stores, including the NEW Holly Lane Iced Mince Pies (£1.39, 6 pack) short crust pastry cases filled with mincemeat, topped with icing, or the classic Holly Lane Deep Filled Mince Pies (£1.25, 6 pack) working out at just 21p per pie, a festive bargain!

Aldi’s Holly Lane Iced Mince Pies and Holly Lane Deep Filled Mince Pies are available to buy in stores and via Click and Collect now.

*Full T&Cs apply, visit: https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-mince-pies

Let the "feastivites" begin; six new flavour mince pies land at Asda for Christmas 2023

Christmas and mince pie fanatics (which includes us at That's Christmas!) have something to look forward to, as Asda is launching a 17-strong mince pie range, with 6 new flavours, for Christmas 2023.

Flavours will include Brown Butter and Spiced Rum, Frangipane and Amaretto, Chocolate and Cherry Crumble and a vegan OMV! Crumble Topped Mince Pie.

It's Asda's prediction that it will sell 26 million mince pies this year, after selling 24 million last year.

Hero products in the range, including the Extra Special Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies, are produced by a specialist family owned and operated bakery based in Lazonby, Cumbria which has been producing high quality, delicious baked goods since 1946.

Available as part of Asda’s 2023 Christmas range, mince pies land this week instore and online.

With under 100 days to go before Christmas Day itself, it’s never too early to start stocking up on the nation’s favourite Christmas treat. (And, at least here at That's Christmas to sample them before Christmas Day itself!) 

As a nation, we love mince pies, and this year Asda has gone really big. Throughout the season Asda predicts to sell 4.4 million packs of mince pies, that's actually over 26 million individual mince pies.

From this week, Asda's offering a truly stunning 17-strong mince pie offering for the festive season, with six new flavours, catering to all mince pie lovers out there, whatever your preferences might be.

This summer Asda announced its first ever Christmas signature flavour, Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum, created by the Asda Innovation Team. The flavour will be across hero products throughout the festive range, from mince pies to pigs in blankets. 

Jonathan Moore, Senior Director of Food Innovation and Trends, says: “We noticed an abundance of brown butter used globally by top pastry chefs, accompanied by the growth in the use of dark rum by mixologists across the globe, and this instantly recognisable flavour of warming spices was the perfect pairing for the brown butter. 

He went on to say: "By combining these two key flavours, this year’s Christmas signature flavour was born!” 

Taking the reins of the range are the Extra Special Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies (6PK, £2.35). The all-butter short crust pastry is enriched with brown butter for a unique and tasty nutty flavour and filled with a spiced vine fruit and citrus peel mincemeat, topped with a Jamaican rum and sweet dusting for a real festive treat.

For those who dare to be different at Christmas, the Extra Special Chocolate & Cherry Crumble Mince Pies (6PK, £2.75) made with rich chocolate flavour, all-butter short crust pastry, filled with sweet cherry jam and mincemeat, and topped with chocolate crumble will be a favourite. 

Customers can also enjoy the Extra Special Frangipane & Amaretto Mince Pies (6PK, £2.75) made with all-butter pastry and filled with Amaretto-infused vine fruit and citrus peel mincemeat, topped with a delicious all-butter frangipane, finished with flaked almonds and a sweet dusting.

The Asda Extra Special Mini Mince Pies (9PK, £2.75) with vine fruits, Valencian orange oil, spices, rich ruby port and cognac, are perfect for a light dessert or Christmas party.

For those who like to stick to the classics, the Extra Special Deep Fill Mince Pies (6PK, £2.75) are impressively filled to the very brim with mincemeat in an all-butter short crust pastry, along with the Asda Mince Pies (6PK, £1.45).

Asda’s own-brand vegan range, OMV!, will be launching its first ever festive offering this Christmas. Available from tomorrow, Monday 2nd October, the OMV! Crumble Topped Mince Pies (4PK, £2) have a fruit-packed vegan mincemeat filling and are topped with cinnamon and ginger spiced crumble for a modern twist on a festive classic. (I'm not a vegan, but with the cinnamon and ginger spiced crumble, I think I'll be popping over to our nearest Asda branch to buy some of those.)

Asda customers can also shop the Free From Frangipane Mince Pies (4PK, £2.25), and enjoy sweet pastry filled with rich brandy mincemeat, topped with frangipane and delicate flaked almonds. As we have pointed out, Asda worked closely with a family-run bakery based in Cumbria to produce some of the hero products in the range, including the standout Brown Butter & Rum Mince Pies. The business, established in 1946, has been producing high quality, delicious baked goods for the past 75 years. The pies are made from scratch in small batches and finished by hand.

John Hines, supplier spokesman, says: “Each year it's a joy to work with Asda on creating our mince pies and to feed the nation with their favourite festive bakes. “We are always looking to see how we can incorporate new, exciting flavours to give our mince pies the wow-factor and experiment with different tastes and popular products.”

He finished by saying: “We’re wishing everyone a very happy Christmas!”

Wow! Co-op unveils Absolutely Stunning Christmas food and drink range for 2023

The UKs leading convenience retailer Co-op has exclusively unveiled its 2023 Christmas food and drink ranges, highlighting a line-up of exciting new products landing across its 2,400 stores throughout the festive period.

This year, the Co-op’s Christmas ranges and products have been specially created with the convenience shopper in mind, based on a firm belief that convenience shopping shouldn’t mean compromising on quality, value or values.

From easy-to-cook party foods to a ready-prepared stuffed turkey joint for two that’s ready to pop into the oven. Each product within the Christmas range has been carefully selected for its great taste,  shoppers can enjoy Co-op's delicious Irresistible party food range, made only with the finest of ingredients. 

The range also firmly stays true to the Co-op’s ethical and sustainable values as it's extended its offering to include more outdoor-bred British pork and responsibly sourced Scottish salmon, too.

Also, there will be exclusive member pricing across a range of lines this year and shoppers can take advantage of a ‘2 for £5.50’ multi-buy offer across the standard party food range.

Taking note of emerging food trends, changing shopping habits and listening to members and customers, the Co-op is bringing the party with an all-new premium Irresistible party food offering which takes centre stage, extending the party season to allow more time for celebrations.

Key products include Irresistible Vol-au-Vents (170g, £5.00) topped with delicious cheese, onion and chive, and cheese and ham hock, plus the crunchy Irresistible Orange Bubble Tempura Prawns (206g, £5.00) with a crispy tempura batter and a sweet chilli dip. 

Another party food must-have at Co-op HQ this year is the delicious Pizza Puff Dippers (190g, £3.25) – tasty tomato, mozzarella and basil empanadas that will leave party guests wanting even more.

Nicole Tallant, Head of Co-op Delicious Food (EDITOR: Wow! What a fantastic job!) said: “As a convenience retailer, we’re committed to making our members and customers lives that little bit easier, which is even more important during the busy Christmas period. 

"We’re proud to be revealing our premium party food offering – elevating a range which is easy and convenient to cook for our busy hosts! Whilst our shoppers can be rest assured that we’ll also be fully stocked on the Christmas essentials for those last-minute trips to the shop.”

Along with investing time into perfecting much-loved Christmas classics, Co-op is introducing a twist on the traditional mince pie, with the arrival of its Irresistible Black Forest Mince Pies (4 pack, £2.65), bursting with a cherry flavour, found in the fruity compote and sweet kirsch frosting.

Turkey curry fans (novelty jumper and Bridget Jones on the TV not essential!) can rejoice at Co-op’s take on a Boxing Day classic with new Irresistible Turkey Tikka Masala Crisps (150g, £1.50) made with British potatoes and a blend of cooked turkey and punchy spice flavours. It’s a turkey curry in a crisp!

And not forgetting Co-op’s Christmas sandwich range, this year, Co-op is partnering with Barnardo’s with an aim to raise £5m to support 750,000 young people access basic needs like food, manage their mental wellbeing and access opportunities for their futures. £50,000 from the sales of the Christmas sandwich range will be donated to Barnardo’s as part of this important partnership.

Consisting of customer favourites, this year, there’s a premium sandwich offering too, with the launch of the 'Irresistible Christmas Market Sandwich’ (255g, £3.85) Currywurst style pork sausage sandwich with Cheddar cheese, sauerkraut, tangy mustard mayo and gherkins on a dark rye bread.

Tallant went on to say: “Our dedicated team of developers have worked passionately on our Christmas range by looking into what our customers really like and observing the latest food trends, even sampling Christmas Market favourites up and down the country to create the delicious Christmas Market Sandwich which transports you straight to the wooden stalls that light up our cities in December!”

https://www.coop.co.uk