Fruit mince pies can be polarising. For some, they're the very essence of Christmas; for others, they're akin to squashed fly guts mixed with cloves.

Heston Blumenthal range after 12 years Waitrose axes Heston Blumenthal range after 12 years

The Heston from Waitrose range brought customers some iconic products; notably the hidden orange Christmas pudding and mince pies and hot cross buns with characteristic twists. The mincemeat inside the pies is made up of vine fruits, apples, figs and candied pears, all spiced with nutmeg and ginger, and laced with ruby port. All that is wrapped in cheesy pastry which uses a combination of cheddar, emmental and Italian hard cheese to create a distinctly savoury and decadent flavour. For some, they're the very essence of Christmas; for others, they're akin to squashed fly guts mixed with cloves Throughout December, Jensen will go on to comment on some of the biggest Christmas TV moments, including First Dates at Christmas, Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, and the John Lewis advert – telling us that these are all great, but the best bit of Christmas is really the food. Team behind the advertAs part of our campaign, we’ll also be launching a number of product adverts* from Tuesday 16th November which will feature the places and processes behind our festive highlights - the hazelnut forests of Northern Italy to Heston’s test kitchen: From 7am on Tuesday 16 November, our Partners will be the first to see the advert before it launches on waitrose.com at 7:30am and on our social channels at 8am. The mincemeat includes a mix of sultanas, currants, raisins, apple purée, sugar, glucose syrup, tapioca starch, glace diced pears, dried figs, ruby port and lemon and orange peel. We asked CHOICE staff to put their tastebuds on the line by blind tasting traditional fruit mince pies from Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets, and voting for their favourite. The 56-year-old chef is known for his out-of-the-box ideas when it comes to food, but some appear to think he has taken his imagination too far this time.

Best mince pies for Christmas 2023 UK, tried and tested Best mince pies for Christmas 2023 UK, tried and tested

With their intricate snowflake and star design, Aldi’s budget pies look suitably festive. They haven't shied away from sweetness in the simple filling, but the bulk of the pies’ flavour comes from the buttery, biscuity pastry. When the gluten-free option is so delicious, no one will feel like they’re missing out, although you will have to head in-store to get your hands on Costa’s free-from bake. Sold individually, testers described these pies are “luxurious”, enjoying the fruity, citrussy filling and chunky texture. Importantly, the pastry was buttery and crumbly, but managed to avoid falling apart when we took a bite. Unfortunately, Covid had other plans for us this year, but if there’s one thing you can rely on to bring you that Christmas cheer it’s a mince pie. Nothing marks the beginning of Christmas like that first mouthful of mince pie – buttery, crumbly pastry filled with spiced mincemeat and a generous dash of booze for good measure.

According to a statement made by the retailer, they will be taking product development in a new direction with its own team of development chefs and product developers.

mince pies for Christmas 2022 taste tested | Evening Best mince pies for Christmas 2022 taste tested | Evening

London-based bakery Melrose & Morgan produces pies that taste like they’ve come fresh out of the oven. The vanilla-spiked buttery pastry is indulgent and nutty, while the rich, tangy mincemeat has a good splash of brandy.Heston Blumenthal has sparked fury amongst Christmas food fans as they reacted to the release of his latest twist on a festive mince pie. Taste - The pasty was lovely and sweet, but unfortunately there was too much of it and not enough filling. This was a mince pie designed for people who don’t particularly like mince pies. You need to steam the pudding for three hours which, as well as cooking it, will infuse the sponge – and your kitchen – with delicious citrus notes.