Monday 3 November 2014

Aldi - Specially Selected - 6 Mince Pies

Last year's very close runner up is back to see if they can take over that top spot from Harrods. Have Aldi kept with the same recipe, or have they tried something new. Lets find out.
 Presentation - 6 / 10


Not a very Christmas styled box anymore. They've even put black text on a black box. Obviously slightly different shades, but still barely visible and just shoddy. You can't even see it in my picture.  Here's a closer look at it;



No, you don't need glasses, that really is how it's printed on. I didn't notice this when I picked up the box, so I hope they are all not like this.

The mince pies however, look identical to last years. The saying, "if its not broken, don't fix it" comes to mind.




Nutritional Value and Price - 8 / 10

Again, these are almost identical to last years figures. 247 calories, 9g of fat and 21g of sugar.

The price has reduced a good amount to £1.49 for 6. This is a reduction of 20p from last years mince pies. This is a good news for all of you on a tight budget.



Pastry - 28 / 35

I have to say this is almost identical to last years. The crumbly, buttery pastry is fantastic. I think the pie was a fraction thicker than last year so there is more pastry, but even then, it's still delicious.

Mincemeat - 26 / 35

There is a good helping compared to pastry, despite the gap in between the top of the mincemeat and the lid, but I feel there is something different here. Last year, I remember large juicy fruits and crunchy nuts. I think these are there, but on a smaller more pureed scale. The taste is still the same, sweet and tangy with a few drops of brandy, so I'm sure the recipe is the same, but the feeling in your mouth is not as it was.

Overall Satisfaction - 7 / 10

Don't get me wrong, the above may have sounded overly critical, but you have to be when you're reviewing last years runner up. There is still loads to love about this mince pie, but it's not the same as last year's in every way. There has been some "adjusting" in ingredients, which may have allowed for that 20p price cut.

OVERALL SCORE - 75 / 100

Look at where these fit in on our leader board.

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