The consumer champion’s independent supermarket food and drink taste tests have uncovered the best items to buy for Christmas 2024.
Researchers found that by shopping at budget supermarkets, it’s possible to bag tasty versions of festive favourites without spending big.
Best cheap sparkling wine
Which? found that Lidl’s Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene, which costs £7.49 for 75cl, was the best value sparkling wine. It came third overall in Which?’s sparkling wine taste test, impressing experts with its fruity and floral flavours.
As the cheapest one tested, this budget bubbly was the researchers’ best value pick for Christmas celebrations.
Best cheap mince pies
Aldi’s Specially Selected Mince Pies cost £2.29 for six and were researchers’ best value pick of the supermarket offerings this year.
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Experts praised their “lovely, buttery pastry, generous fruity filling and well-balanced sweetness”.
At nearly half the price of the top-scoring mince pies, Which? said the Aldi mince pies were a great choice for people looking to keep costs down without compromising too much on taste.
The budget supermarket was named the cheapest supermarket in the UK in October.
Best panettone
Another best value product from Aldi was the budget supermarket’s Specially Selected Panettone, which costs £4.99 for 750g.
Researchers said that Aldi’s version of this classic Italian sweet bread “proved there’s no need to spend big for a crowd-pleasing panettone”.
Tasters rated it as one of the best panettones for both flavour and texture, with well-balanced sweetness and a lovely soft sponge.
Best cheap roast potatoes
Ready-made roasties can tick one chore off the to-do list this Christmas, and Aldi’s Specially Selected Beef Dripping Roast Potatoes mean you can cater for a crowd without it costing a packet.
The potatoes cost £2.49 for 1kg and were a real hit with Which?’s consumer tasting panel in its blind taste test, finishing in joint-first place alongside M&S’ offering, but costing less.
Mulled wine
Another time-saving option, ready-made mulled wine means one less thing to prep, and Which? found a standout best buy for just £3 at Sainsbury’s.
The supermarket’s mulled wine was a clear winner in Which?’s taste test, with most of its tasters approving of its “well-balanced spice, fruitiness and sweetness”. It also outclassed pricier bottles.
Other great-value food and drink
Which? researchers also found some budget store cupboard staples worth stocking up on. These included:
- Aldi Alcafé House Blend Roast & Ground Coffee, £2.29 for 227g
- Tesco Finest Thai Inspired Sweet Chilli Crisps, £1.35 for 150g
- Aldi Bramwells Baked Beans in a Rich Tomato Sauce, 41p for 410g
